A collaborative agreement between the City of San Francisco and Australian BioPower Systems to investigate the generation of wave energy from the Pacific Ocean was announced today (22nd October). Under the agreement, BioPower will work with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) to assess the feasibility of a project located eight kilometres (five miles) off San Francisco's western beaches with a generating capacity of between 10MW and 100MW. The proposed Oceanside Wave Energy Project would consider installation of a wave farm using BioPower's modular wave energy system, bioWAVET.

John Doyle, Acting Manager of Infrastructure at the SFPUC, said that the project has the potential to add yet another source of renewable energy to the City's power network. "The feasibility of ocean waves as an energy source is being considered and this could lead to further project development."

Pending the results of a feasibility study, BioPower and the City of San Francisco will work together to develop the project aimed at supplying clean renewable electricity into the City's power grid by 2012.

"Due in large part to Mayor Gavin Newsom's leadership, San Francisco is set to become the model for renewable-powered cities of the future", said Dr Tim Finnigan, BioPower's CEO. "It comprises an environmentally aware populace that is supportive of renewable energy alternatives as long as they prove to be cost effective, reliable, and non-intrusive.

"We have already assessed the potential for economic energy production using bioWAVET at the proposed project site, and the results are very promising. We are confident that our collaboration with the City of San Francisco will translate into substantial economic and environmental benefits," Dr Finnigan added.