New generation wave energy: could it provide one third of Australia's electricity?

A company called Carnegie Wave Energy is pushing the boundaries of wave-energy technology, and Australian island and coastal communities could be the first to take advantage of it

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Alan Burns had an "epiphany" about the potential of ocean energy after being pummelled by the surf off Rottnest Island, near Perth. Two decades later and Burns' company, Carnegie Wave Energy, appears to be finally on the verge of delivering on his dream.

Wave energy - at least in theory - has the potential to provide one third of Australia's electricity needs. The challenge has been to design a wave energy system that can resist the brutal power of the ocean, and to find a niche in the market in the face of plunging costs of solar energy and other renewables.