Australia's pioneering wave energy project, the moored multi-modal multibody (M4) device named 'Kwilyilah' meaning “dolphin,” concluded a successful six-month data collection trial off the coast of Albany on May 1, 2025 [3]. The device, launched on November 8, 2024, was retrieved from the Albany Waterfront Marina [3]. The 22-meter, 42-tonne M4 device is designed to capture wave-generated energy while providing data on its efficiency and potential as a sustainable energy source [3].
The University of Western Australia's (UWA) Marine Energy Research Australia initiative is running the project, with funding from the Blue Economy CRC and the Western Australian State Government [3]. The project is part of ongoing research into the Great Southern's potential as a wave energy hub [3].
The data collected, totaling more than 3 TB, will be analyzed throughout 2025 [3]. Preliminary findings may be presented at the Australian Marine Sciences Association conference in Melbourne from July 13-17, 2025 [2, 5]. The M4 wave energy device features a triangular forward frame, a trailing arm, and a power generator on the connecting hinge and is built from structural steel beams and four steel floater buoys for buoyancy and ballast [3, 10].