National-scale wave energy resource assessment for Australia

A nationally consistent wave resource assessment is presented for Australian shelf ( −1 (90th percentile of 60–78 kW m −1 ), delivering 800–1100 GJ m −1 of energy in an average year. New South Wales and southern Queensland shelves, with moderate levels of wave power (time-average: 10–20 kW m −1 ; 90th percentile: 20–30 kW m −1 ), are also potential sites for electricity generation due to them having a similar reliability in resource delivery to the southern margin. Time-average wave power for most of the northern Australian shelf is −1 . Seasonal variations in wave power are consistent with regional weather patterns, which are characterised by winter SE trade winds/summer monsoon in the north and winter temperate storms/summer sea breezes in the south. The nationally consistent wave resource assessment for Australian shelf waters can be used to inform policy development and site-selection decisions by industry.