The offshore wind industry is another step closer with the Australian Government announcing preliminary feasibility licence decisions for the Indian Ocean off the Bunbury region, Western Australia.
After careful assessment by the Offshore Infrastructure Registrar, Bunbury Offshore Wind Project in the northern area (Bunbury OWP North) has progressed to the next stage.
This project has the potential to:
- power 1 million homes with clean renewable energy
- strengthen our energy security
- inject hundreds of millions of dollars into our regional economies
- support local businesses
- create hundreds of ongoing well-paid jobs.
Two additional but overlapping projects are also shortlisted for feasibility licences:
- Bunbury Offshore Wind Project in the southern area (Bunbury OWP South)
- Westward Wind Project.
If these 2 developers can resolve the overlap of the projects, the Minister for Climate Change and Energy will consider offering them feasibility licences.
The Minister has not issued any feasibility licences yet. The final decision on feasibility licence applications depends on the outcome of consultations with First Nations groups under the Native Title Act 1993.
If the government grants feasibility licences, it will establish a dedicated Wind Industry Committee in Bunbury. The committee will help local communities maximise economic and social benefits from the offshore wind industry.
Updates for Gippsland, Victoria and Hunter, New South Wales
Good progress is being made in the Gippsland offshore wind zone:
- 5 licence holders have had their management plans approved by the Offshore Infrastructure Regulator
- 7 licence holders are undertaking feasibility studies and environmental assessments after receiving approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999 (EPBC Act).
In the Hunter offshore wind zone off New South Wales, Novocastrian Wind Pty Ltd has requested additional time to consider an offer of a feasibility licence.
The future
The Australian Government is continuing to work with the emerging offshore wind industry on improving the regulatory framework by:
- undertaking a review of the fees and levies imposed on offshore wind developers
- considering ways to allow greater flexibility for providing financial security to reduce economic barriers for the industry
- ensuring there is consistency across industry on data collection and research in offshore areas.
Offshore wind projects have the potential to power millions of homes with clean renewable energy and strengthen our energy security. They will also support onshore manufacturing and create skilled and well-paid jobs in regional areas.
