Deputy Prime Minister visits Wave Energy Project

Wave energy developer Carnegie Wave Energy Limited, Australia, welcomed the deputy prime minister and federal treasurer the Hon Wayne Swan MP, Senator the Hon Chris Evans and Melissa Parke MP to its Fremantle wave energy research facility on 15th July 2011. Carnegie's managing director and CEO Dr Michael Ottaviano and its executive director of European Business Development Mr Kieran O'Brien gave the deputy prime minister a tour of the Fremantle facility and led an inspection of the CETO wave energy unit that has just successfully completed its in-ocean trial.

 

Dr Ottaviano said "We reiterate our support for the Government's new climate change initiatives and in particular the AUD13 billion of funding for renewable energy projects and developments that was announced earlier this week. These initiatives create the opportunity for Australia to harness its world class wave, solar, wind and geothermal resources."

 

Mr O'Brien said to be impressed with the efforts of the Australian Government in making the transition to a sustainable energy future and in supporting new renewable technologies. "Given Australia's world class wave energy resource this is a great opportunity to begin to match the level of support that wave energy is receiving in Western Europe."

 

Mr O'Brien is a former executive of the Irish Government's power utility (ESB) and a former acting secretary general of the World Energy Council.

 

Image: Carnegie executive director Mr Kieran O'Brien and CEO Dr Michael Ottaviano with Melissa Parke MP and treasurer Wayne Swan at Carnegie's facility.