Harnessing the Energy of the Ocean with Stephanie Thornton

Have you ever stood on the ocean shore, or been tossed around in a boat at sea, and been amazed by the sheer power of the ocean?

For most of us, the energy captured and exerted by the vast ocean is so immense that it’s unfathomable - but for some people and businesses, this wonder is combined with excitement driven by the massive potential in harnessing the power of the ocean as a source of energy.

In this week’s episode of The Ocean Impact Podcast we speak with Stephanie Thornton, CEO of the Australian Ocean Energy Group (AOEG). As CEO of the AOEG, Stephanie is charged with steering this industry led cluster to facilitate collaboration in the Australian ocean energy sector.

In this episode Stephanie shares insights into her unique life that saw her growing up on fishing boats, working in the energy industry and finding herself at the helm of the burgeoning ocean energy sector in Australia.

You can catch the full interview with Stephanie on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud and YouTube now!

As our podcast host, Tim took the opportunity to ask Stephanie lots of the questions that you may have about ocean energy. Who were the pioneers? Where is it working well? What are the differing types and technologies? What are the possibilities now and into the future? Stephanie does a great job in providing a wealth of intriguing answers and insights.

We thought we’d take this opportunity to tell you a little bit more about the ocean energy sector and some of the great work being done in Australia to build and advance ocean energy technology.

Who is the Australian Ocean Energy Group?

The Australian Ocean Energy Group is an industry led cluster to further collaboration for the Australian ocean energy sector. AOEG is a collaboration with Climate-KIC Australia, with additional funding supplied by National Energy Resources Australia (NERA). With a consortium made up of significant individuals and organisations in the Australian ocean energy sector, their aim is to accelerate the addition of ocean energy to Australia’s energy resource mix.

To learn more about AOEG, check out this cool introduction video here.

What is 'Ocean Energy'?

Ocean energy refers to all forms of energy derived from the sea.

Wave
Wave power uses technology to harness the physical energy of waves, and is usually deployed close to the continental shelf to maximise efficiency.

Thermal
Ocean thermal energy is created by converting the temperature difference between the water close to the ocean’s surface and the deeper water into energy.

Tidal
There are two forms of tidal energy: tidal range technologies harvest the potential energy created by the height difference between high and low tides. Tidal stream, or current technologies, capture the energy of currents flowing in and out of tidal areas.

What’s happening with Ocean Energy in Australia?

According to the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Australia has enormous untapped potential in harnessing wave energy. But even as an island surrounded by nearly 36,000 kilometres of coastline, ocean energy is still in the developmental stage in Australia. The exciting news is that the sector is growing rapidly, with the AOEG as one of the most significant players to look out for.

Some other notable names working in this space to keep an eye on include Wave Swell Energy, who are working on The UniWave200 King Island Project (pictured above) which received funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) earlier this year.

In order to accelerate and leverage the potential for ocean energy in Australia, AOEG has established collaborations with five universities with leading-edge ocean energy research capabilities; Australian and international wave and tidal technology developers; private sector technical specialists, such as marine engineering; non-profit climate change organisation and specialist Australian and international consultants. AOEG is supported through the Government’s Energy Resources Growth Centre, National Energy Resources Australia(NERA).

Challenges and Opportunities

In recognising the cross-sectoral challenges in ocean energy, aquaculture and marine fisheries in Australia, Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre(BECRC) in Tasmania is tackling the challenge by leveraging the combined knowledge, infrastructure and vertical integration of these sectors. Over a ten year period it aims to transform the blue economy in Australia by moving seafood and renewable energy production to the open ocean in an economically viable and environmentally accredited way.

In October 2019 the BECRC received government funding for research in Tasmania that aims to grow Australia’s seafood, energy and marine industries. Earlier this year, seventeen short-term projects were announced, which cover five research program areas and involve the collaboration of 40 partner organisations globally.

“These projects will not only provide a platform for future research investment by the BECRC, they will directly benefit our industry partners by pulling together the latest developments in science and technology in the evolving market”, CECRC Chief Executive Officer Dr. John Whittington said about the announcement.

With continued investment and support, Australia is set to become a pioneer in renewable ocean energy technology and continue our path towards a decreased reliance on fossil fuels. The work of the BECRC is an excellent example of the industry-agnostic, yet collaborative and innovative approach that is needed to create opportunities and maximise ocean impact.