Successful Completion of Deployment Campaign for UWA’s ‘Kwilyilah’ Wave Energy Converter
The University of Western Australia’s (UWA) Moored MultiModal Multibody (M4) wave energy converter (WEC), known as ‘Kwilyilah’, has concluded its deployment campaign in King George Sound, Albany.
UWA Oceans Institute lifted the wave energy prototype out of the Albany Marina on May 1, 2025, marking the end of a six-month campaign.
The deployment campaign, initiated on November 8, 2024, involved the operation of the 22-meter, 42-tonne M4 device designed to harness wave-generated energy while gathering data on its efficiency and potential as a sustainable energy source.
After more than 130 days of operation and 300 hours of power generation, UWA Oceans Institute amassed over 3 TB of data for analysis in the coming months.
M4 wave energy converter lifted out of water in King George Sound
The project, led by UWA’s Marine Energy Research Australia and supported by the Blue Economy CRC and the Western Australian State Government, contributes to ongoing exploration of the Great Southern region’s potential as a wave energy hub.
The M4 wave energy device, characterized by a triangular forward frame, a trailing arm, and a power generator on the connecting hinge, is constructed from structural steel beams and four steel floater buoys for buoyancy and ballast.
The device, named ‘Kwilyilah’ which means “dolphin” in collaboration with the Albany Heritage Reference Group, honors Noongar cultural heritage and symbolizes the leaping motion of dolphins above water, highlighting the meaningful connection between dolphins and coastal communities.