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Home News-archive Wave Projects Australian wave energy project gets environmental OK
| Australian wave energy project gets environmental OK |
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| Written by Administrator | |||
| Sunday, 07 September 2008 16:29 | |||
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An independent Preliminary Environmental Constraints Review on the feasibility of a CETO Wave Energy Farm at Albany in south western Australia has delivered encouraging results, according to a statement issued by the Carnegie Corporation last week (3rd September). Conducted by leading environmental consultants RPS Environment, the report was commissioned as part of the feasibility activities being undertaken by Carnegie at the recently granted Albany license area. The site, located 15 kilometres south west of Albany, consists of approximately 30,000 hectares of offshore wave resource and an adjacent onshore area. The report concluded that based on the available information, "it appears unlikely there would be any 'fatal flaws' in the proposed development due to environmental considerations." Some aspects of the project design may need to incorporate environmental considerations and further studies are necessary to determine the nature and extent of these requirements. Carnegie Managing Director Dr Michael Ottaviano said: "While this is the first step in what will be a detailed environmental assessment of a possible renewable wave power project at Albany, it is an extremely positive outcome that gives us confidence in moving forward to the next stages of the feasibility study." The Preliminary Environmental Constraints Review consisted of a desk top review of the environmental values of the license area and the broader region extending 15km around the license area. This information was evaluated to establish whether any of these features would be significantly impacted by the proposed development. Those features that may be affected were then assessed as to whether they would constrain the development. Further site specific environmental surveys will now be undertaken to further inform project feasibility studies. It is recommended that these are sufficiently rigorous to meet relevant Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) Guidance requirements so that they could also form the foundation for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in support of environmental regulatory approvals.
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| Last Updated on Monday, 23 February 2009 15:33 |