Flotation Energy, the Scottish developer behind the impressive 1500MW Seadragon Offshore Wind Project, has taken a significant step towards its Australian venture. The company recently signed a substantial AUS$22m contract with RPS, marking the beginning of a two and a half-year environmental survey program in the Australian Bass Strait region.
Although the specific licensees are yet to be disclosed, Flotation Energy has been actively involved in the Gippsland region since 2019. To ensure the successful completion of the project by 2030, the company is proactively commencing environmental surveys at this stage.
Carolyn Sanders, the head of operations for Flotation Energy Australia, emphasized the importance of the survey in the project's timely delivery. She stated, “Our project aims to deliver power to one million homes by 2030. By initiating environmental surveys now and engaging with the community, we ensure a smooth and efficient project delivery process.”
The Gippsland region, with its abundance of renewable energy resources and a remarkable 50-year energy legacy, is set to benefit immensely from Flotation Energy's ambitious project. The company's investment of over AUS$6bn into the region is just one part of a larger estimated AUS$40bn of proposed energy projects that are generating employment opportunities and laying the foundation for a construction boom.
Flotation Energy has rapidly grown as a developer, expanding from just two members in 2021 to a team of 18 in Australia. The company aims to leverage its expertise in the UK offshore wind industry to contribute significantly to Australia's energy transition.
The comprehensive surveys designed by Flotation Energy will extensively study the unique Bass Strait marine environment. This includes studying the patterns and usage of the area by various marine life, such as whales, seals, fish, sharks, seabirds, shorebirds, and migratory birds.
The surveys will employ various advanced techniques, such as tagging and tracking marine mammals, birds, and sharks, deploying passive acoustic monitors (PAMs) to study marine mammal activity, conducting aerial and boat-based surveys, using towed video and baited cameras, collecting grab samples, performing environmental DNA analysis, and monitoring metocean conditions.
The first marine field survey has already begun, with Jasco Applied Sciences deploying PAMs to record underwater noise. This data will prove crucial in understanding how marine mammals utilize the proposed project area and its surrounding region.
Furthermore, the collected data will play a pivotal role in designing the project to minimize its environmental impact and securing necessary environmental approvals.
Flotation Energy's track record of delivering 3GW of offshore wind in the UK, along with its recent accomplishment of the world's largest floating grid-connected offshore windfarm, Kincardine, off the coast of Scotland, instills confidence in the success of the Seadragon Offshore Wind Project. With their expertise and dedication to environmental consciousness, Flotation Energy is poised to make a significant contribution to Australia's renewable energy landscape.
