'Rich in wind' | Australia to start consultations on two more offshore areas

Australia’s Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen has announced the start of consultations for two more offshore wind zones in the country and promised to have all six zones fully declared by mid-2024.

Consultations regarding the Bass Straight region, near the Tasmanian coast, will begin in October and for Western Australia’s Perth-Bunbury zone the same process will start in November, Bowen told an audience at GWEC’s APAC Summit in Melbourne.

One-year ago Australia announced six proposed regions defined as offering world-class offshore wind energy potential.

The first two areas to be fully declared following consultations were Gippsland, Victoria and Hunter, New South Wales.

This was followed by the start of consultations on the Illawarra and the Southern Ocean zones.

Bowen said the latest announcement puts Australia “firmly on track to have all six areas for consultation declared by the first half of next year.”

“I’m providing this roadmap today because I know it will give industry certainty about the immediate path ahead,” he added.

No fig leaf

Bowen also stressed that community consultations would be much more than a rubber stamping process. “It’s not a fig leaf,” he said

“This is genuine conversation, listening to different perspectives, and making sure the balance right,” the minister said.

He added : “The two zones I have declared so far: Gippsland and Hunter, both have changed from the originally proposed zones as a result of community consultation. This is as it should be. It is the process working.”

Later this year, Australia’s Energy Infrastructure Commissioner is expected to publishing a first engagement guide for communities and developers, Bowen noted.

Ciao coal

Bowen also affirmed that Australia has some of the best offshore wind resources anywhere in the world.

“We’ve been able to bring this work forward because of our Government’s increased investment in the development of the Australian offshore wind industry,” he stated.

The Australian Labor Party, led by now prime minister Anthony Albanese, swept to power last year on an electoral platform that included a promise to turn Australia into a renewable energy superpower.

Bowen told the conference audience that it was “no coincidence” the government had chosen Gippsland as the first offshore wind zone because, apart from being “rich in wind” the region is also home to Victoria’s coal fired power stations.

“Power stations that won’t be replaced with new ones when they close,” he said, stressing also that the government was banking on offshore wind to create an abundance of long-term jobs.

Positive reaction

Danish renewable energy developer Copenhagen Energy immediately welcomed the federal government’s announcement in relation to the Perth/Bunbury zone in Western.

Copenhagen Energy has submitted plans for initial consideration under Australia's EPBC Act for three offshore wind farms in Western Australia and has its Leeuwin Offshore Wind Farm planned for Commonwealth waters between Mandurah and Bunbury.

The company's development manager for Australia, Joy Francis-Hayes, said today’s announcement was important for the development of a new offshore energy sector would provide certainty to the market.

"We now have a clear timeline to consultation and beyond and we look forward to progressing our plans along with our stakeholders," she said.

Copenhagen Energy said it has been involved in project design, initial environmental, economic and social studies, offtake discussion and stakeholder engagement for its Leeuwin project for more than two years.

“Momentum is growing for offshore wind in WA and today’s announcement is a positive step as we continue our planning,” Francis-Hayes said.

“Offshore wind will be an important part of WA’s future energy mix as it transitions from coal-fired power stations.

Copenhagen Energy has also submitted plans for its Samphire Offshore Wind Farm, north of Perth, and Midwest Offshore Wind Farm, both in Commonwealth waters.