BioPower Systems is a renewable energy technology company based in Sydney who are focusing on wave power in Australia. BioPower Systems is developing wave power and tidal power systems to harness the energy of the ocean in Australia and overseas. By studying plants living under the ocean BioPower Systems have based their new technology on biomimicry of sea plants moving under the waves.

Under the Victorian Government’s Sustainable Energy Pilot Program BioPower Systems have recently been awarded a $5 million contribution towards their $14 million 250Kw demonstration plant destined for Port Fairy, Victoria. The demonstration plant will be connected to grid power and upon successful demonstration it has the potential to be increased to a commercial scale.

Designed to generate electricity from ocean swell, the Biowave technology absorbs energy at the sea’s surface and below. Mounted on the bottom of the ocean floor energy is generated through a pitching device which spans the full depth. The 1MW commercial model will operate in a depth of 40 – 45m.

Checkout this animation explaining how the wave power system works:

The buoyant floats on top of the wave power device interact with the rise and fall of the ocean surface (potential energy) and the back and forth movement of water under the waves (kinetic energy). The pivoting structure moves back and forth in time with the wave and the energy of this motion is converted into electricity through a hydraulic system that creates fluid pressure, which is then used to turn a generator. The generated power is delivered to shore by a subsea cable which can then be connected to the electricity grid for distribution.

In 2009/10 the Discovery Channel aired a documentary called The FutureMakers which featured BioPower Systems – check it out below:

Several physical, commercial and social factors influence the location of an ocean power project. Some of these factors include government programs, port infrastructure, engineering services, resource characteristics and potential environmental or community impacts. BioPower Systems have also been investigating installation sites on King Island and Flinders Island in Tasmania and also overseas in Cantabria, Spain and San Francisco, USA.

The most powerful and consistent waves are created by strong prevailing winds in high latitudes, making the coastline of Australia an ideal place for wave power. Wave power in Australia could deliver abundant energy along populated areas of our coast. New Zealand, USA, Canada, Western Europe, India and South Africa are also all suitable for wave energy development.

Dr Timothy Finnigan is BioPower’s Chief Executive and has been involved in ocean engineering for 18 years, including ten years focused exclusively on ocean power conversion. According to Dr Finnigan, “…we set out to address the many issues that have bedevilled most wave energy technologies… we took the unusual step of spending five years performing multiple on-land tests at increasing scale prior to ocean deployment.”

Wave power in Australia is a great source of renewable energy and with companies like BioPower Systems developing ocean power technologies we are getting closer to harnessing wave power Australia wide. Checkout more information on the BioPower Systems website.