Low cost desalination ...

From ABC News:

Waves power sea water desalination plant

Just 3 per cent of the billions of litres of water that cover the Earth's surface are suitable for humans to consume.

But it may not be a case of 'water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink' if technology being trialled off the New South Wales coast is adopted.

Energetech has developed a way to use the energy of waves to desalinate sea water.

"A barrel of free oil every 15 minutes" is how Tom Engelsman, the chief executive officer of Energetech, describes the energy generated by waves.

At Port Kembla in New South Wales, a turbine designed by Mr Engelsman's company is generating seven kilowatts of power per metre of wave.

Under Mr Engelsman's plan to harness the power of the ocean, the energy cost is reduced to zero - cutting the price of the desalinated water to 55 cents per cubic metre.

That is close to the price of the cheapest water in Sydney, which Mr Engelsman puts at 47 cents per cubic metre.

"The ability to make low-cost water is a completely viable option," he said.

He says the scheme also has other benefits - it does not emit greenhouse gases, it does not tie up valuable land and it is easier to dispose of by-products like brine.

The Port Kembla prototype is the only one of its kind but Mr Engelsman already envisages clusters along the coast.

"You could have as many as you liked together feeding water to coastal towns and industries."

At a price that makes it hard to say no to desalinated water.

See - Wave energy.