Using the waves of the southern Australian coastline can meet half of the country's current electricity needs. Setting up the electricity infrastructure to tap the energy along the coast now could even halt the rising cost of electricity.

Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) said their studies show that 10 percent of the low-carbon energy produced in waves can satisfy at least half of consumer demand. The stretch of water from the southern tip of Tasmania to Geraldton, Western Australia was identified as the best site for placing the infrastructure to generate the potential of Australia's waves. The recent CSIRO study also mentioned the coasts of Portland, Western Victoria; Port McDonald, South Australia; the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia; and Albany, Western Australia as potential locations.

Early this year, the Ministry for Resources and Energy disclosed Australia's need to invest at least $92 billion in electricity infrastructure. The amount will cover electricity generation infrastructure that is expected to increase the reliability of power supply. CSIRO responded to the call for a ten-year investment period through intensifying its energy research. It is developing a number of wave energy extraction devices to tap the energy in waves, while completing economic and engineering studies on utilizing the untapped energy source.

Electricity costs have risen by as much as 35 percent in the past three years.