Coming soon to a beach near you: First offshore wind projects get green light
Australia’s first offshore wind projects will start off Victoria’s coast after leading contenders were awarded feasibility licences.
Granting licences for the nation-leading Gippsland zone, Energy Minister Chris Bowen said offshore wind would be āenergy rich and jobs richā for six development zones around Australia.
āThatās why major Australian energy users ā from Alcoa in Portland, to Bluescope in the Illawarra, to Tomago in the Hunter ā say that offshore wind is vital to their energy future,ā he will tell a conference in Melbourne on Wednesday.
The proposed Gippsland projects alone could generate more than 15,000 jobs during construction and another 7500 ongoing jobs, he said.
Eyeing at least two gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2032, 4GW by 2035 and 9GW by 2040, Victorian Energy Minister Lily DāAmbrosio said the zone would be key to the stateās renewable energy transition.
Those given the green light include Australiaās most advanced project Star of the South as well as High Sea Wind, Gippsland Skies, Blue Mackerel North, Kut-Wut Brataualung and Orstedās Gippsland 01.
Six more were in line for the licences subject to further engagement with traditional owners, Mr Bowen will say.
Australian Energy Minister Chris Bowen
Offshore wind will be āenergy rich and jobs richā for six development zones, Mr Bowen says.
Together, the 12 projects would generate 25GW of electricity, or more than 10 times AGLās Loy Yang A coal-fired power plant when operational.
āEven just some of that potential will make a substantial contribution to filling the gap left by coal in Victoria and across the NEM (national electricity market),ā according to Mr Bowen.
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The licences allow developers to do environmental assessments, geotechnical surveys and obtain approvals before a commercial licence for generating electricity can be considered, with the red tape usually requiring at least seven years to get to first wind.
āIt will rightly be some time before the projects Iām announcing today receive the final tick,ā Mr Bowen will say.
He also released further details in a capacity investment scheme that is bringing on 32GW of new reliable renewable power, and the offshore wind program.
Successful bidders have been shortlisted for the Victoria-South Australia tender to provide an additional 600MW of capacity by 2030.
A massive oversubscription of bids totalling 19,000MW of capacity submitted showed āexceptionally strong investment appetite plus industry confidenceā in the scheme, he said.
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