The The Albany M4 project: Demonstrating WA’s wave energy potential

Authors

  • Christophe Gaudin The University of Western Australia
  • Hugh Wolgamot
  • Adi Kurniawan
  • Weibke Ebeling
  • Nuwantha Fernando
  • Peter Stansby
  • Judith Apsley
  • Chris Shearer
  • Brad Saunders

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36688/imej.8.481-488

Keywords:

Wave energy, attenuator, wave ressources, wave modelling, anchoring, deployment, community engagement

Abstract

The paper presents elements of the design, manufacturing and deployment of a wave energy converter demonstrator in Albany, on the south coast of Western Australia (WA). The project, funded by WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, the Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre and The University of Western Australia (UWA) aims at advancing the development of the technology and at testing and validating the infrastructure and supply chain necessary for emerging ocean energy markets, including the aquaculture industry in the region.

The demonstrator is a wave attenuator called M4 for ‘Moored MultiMode Multibody’, developed by M4 Wave Power Ltd at the University of Manchester, UK. It has undergone extensive optimisation, with published results demonstrating high energy capture and excellent survivability. Design was undertaken by BE-CRC partners at BMT in collaboration with UWA.  Upon operation, data associated with mooring line loads, hydrodynamic response and power generation will be made available live on a dedicated website for the benefit of the whole community.

Aspects associated with structural design, mooring design, local procurement, environmental permitting, and deployment operations are presented

IMEJ front cover featuring photograph of Gold Coast, Australia

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Published

2026-04-09

How to Cite

Gaudin, C., Wolgamot, H., Kurniawan, A., Ebeling, W., Fernando, N., Stansby, P., Apsley, J., Shearer, C., & Saunders, B. (2026). The The Albany M4 project: Demonstrating WA’s wave energy potential. International Marine Energy Journal, 8(5), 481–488. https://doi.org/10.36688/imej.8.481-488

Issue

Vol. 8 No. 5 (2026): International Marine Energy Journal

Section

ICOE 2024 special issue papers

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Christophe Gaudin, Hugh Wolgamot, Adi Kurniawan, Weibke Ebeling, Nuwantha Fernando, Peter Stansby, Judith Apsley, Chris Shearer, Brad Saunders

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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