Australia proposes first Indian Ocean area for offshore wind

Australia’s climate change and energy department has officially proposed the Bunbury region in the Indian Ocean off Western Australia as offshore wind area.

The 7,674 square kilometre zone has the potential to host 20GW of wind power capacity, the department said while opening consultations that will last until 3 May 2024.

Any wind farms would have to be built at least 20kms from the coast in the area located offshore between Dawesville and Cape Naturaliste, WA.

The energy department said the Bunbury region is well suited for offshore due to its proximity to areas of high electricity demand (such as Perth), grid connections and port facilities, as well as a skilled energy and manufacturing workforce, strong and consistent winds, and a known interest by industry in developing projects in the area.

The country’s ambitions for wind at sea are part of its strategy to phase out coal and turn Australia into a renewable energy superpower.

Discussions with off-takers

Danish renewable energy developer Copenhagen Energy – which is developing the Leeuwin offshore wind project in the region – confirmed that there was increasing investor interest in Western Australia’s offshore wind potential, and said it continues to have positive discussions with a range of potential off-takers.

“For the first time we have an indication of the area proposed for WA’s first offshore wind zone,” Copenhagen Energy development manager for Australia, Joy Francis-Hayes, said.

“We have been working in WA for three years, conducting initial scoping studies, assessing WA’s wind resources and talking to a range of stakeholders from government and industry to communities to understand their concerns and how we can respond during our project development.

While planning and licence approvals still need to be obtained, the Leeuwin project is ideally placed to operate within the zone outlined by Australia’s government, and is also close to transmission infrastructure, Francis-Hayes stressed.

“Our proposed project area starts 20km off the coast, but turbines could be located up to 70km off the coast.

“Our project has a lot to offer WA environmentally, socially and economically. It will help the State and Federal Governments achieve their carbon-reduction targets, create new jobs and provide the impetus for regional development using local suppliers.”

The proposed wind farm would comprise up to 200 turbines up to 385m high and six sub-stations, and deliver some 3GW of electricity a year.