Chatham Islands, New Zealand

A project to harness wave energy on the Chatham Islands has been awarded funding under the government's Marine Energy Deployment Fund, Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee announced today.

The proposal put forward by Chatham Islands Marine Energy Ltd (CHIME), to install a shore-based device to capture wave energy, has been awarded $2.16 million, subject to conditions, including receiving resource consent.

The project will see the construction of an oscillating water column to power two 110 kilowatt Wells turbines.  The device will be installed on the south-west coast of Chatham Island, and will supply electricity into the island's electricity network.

"This renewable energy project is suitable for the Chatham Island community, which is seeking to reduce its reliance on costly diesel generation for electricity," Mr Brownlee said.

"The project developers expect the turbines will be able to supply more than half the island's electricity needs.

"A project like this could have potential for other isolated areas of New Zealand, and our Pacific Island neighbours.

"It contributes to this government's aim, expressed in the recently released draft New Zealand Energy Strategy, to develop our resources, and provide secure and affordable energy to New Zealanders," Mr Brownlee said.

The technology involves using the motion of rising and falling waves to compress air and rotate a turbine to generate electricity.  The device is completely shore-based with a concrete collector and turbine fixed to the shore.  The technology has been used for more than a decade in the United Kingdom.

"I'd like to congratulate CHIME, and I look forward to seeing this project progressing in the near future," Mr Brownlee said.