Port’s clean energy research could protect eroding coast

The Mid West Ports Authority has teamed up with a Melbourne university to see how renewable energy technology can help protect Geraldton’s eroding coasts from wild weather. A Swinburne University of Technology research team, led by Professor Richard Manasseh, will study wave patterns along the Geraldton coastline to gauge how wave energy machines could have a positive impact on environmental protection and regeneration, while also generating clean energy. “With wave energy having significant impact on the operations at Mid West Ports, we are eager to work with Swinburne on this research project to identify options that could potentially have dual benefit to our coastline and the operating environment at the Port,” MWPA Acting CEO Damian Tully said. Swinburne University of Technology houses Australia’s only computerised random wave-maker dedicated to wave energy. The 11-metre long tank will be used to simulate Geraldton’s swell. “Wave power is a difficult energy source to harness. Unlike wind or water flowing from a dam, flows due to waves are not unidirectional, their movement is never steady and they are constantly reversing,” Professor Manasseh said.