CETO is a patented wave energy technology that converts the energy of the ocean waves into zero-emission electricity and zero-emission freshwater.
It differs from other wave energy technologies under development by pumping water directly ashore under high pressure rather than generating electricity offshore and transmitting it back to shore via high voltage cables.
This makes CETO the most efficient and cost effective way to desalinate freshwater from wave energy.
Other wave energy technologies will need to bring electricity to shore under high voltage, in order to run pumping stations that pump seawater ashore and deliver it to a desalination station. This introduces an inefficient additional step (electricity conversion to mechanical energy for pumping with associated losses), additional capital and operating costs associated with the pumps and additional onshore footprint.
By acting as an offshore pump, CETO delivers large volumes of high pressure seawater ashore ready for desalination via traditional (reverse osmosis) means (but without the greenhouse gas emissions).
As the CETO technology directly produces high pressure seawater, it has the potential to become the world’s first zero-emission desalination technology, producing abundant freshwater. For example, in Australia, where the CETO technology is being developed, all the major southern states (NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia & Western Australia) water needs could be delivered by CETO wave farms occupying a seafloor area of just 150 hectares or 70 football ovals.
The world is running increasingly short of freshwater. It is estimated that nearly 2/3rds of the entire world will be water scarce by the year 2030.
Glodal Water Scarcity - 2030. The yellow and red areas represent 62% of world population.