Australia has offered final feasibility licences to three offshore wind projects that could deliver around 4GW of capacity into Western Australia’s South West Interconnected System, the government said.
Climate and energy minister Chris Bowen and assistant minister Josh Wilson said Bunbury Offshore Wind had been offered two licences in the Bunbury zone, while Westward Wind had been offered one. Acceptance of the offers would allow the developers to proceed with detailed site investigations and stakeholder consultation under the feasibility licence framework.
“These licences are another important step towards up to 4GW of cleaner energy for Western Australian communities and industries,” Bowen said.
“As well as providing reliable, renewable electricity throughout the day, offshore wind can keep generating into the evening, harnessing the consistent, high-speed winds of the Australian coastline,” he added.
Bowen said offshore wind could reduce reliance on gas-fired generation during evening peak periods. “Generating cleaner and more reliable electricity in the evening reduces the amount of gas that Australia needs to keep the lights on,” he said.
Wilson said the government aimed to maximise Western Australia’s renewable resources to deliver cheaper and cleaner power. “Offshore wind provides reliable, large-scale generation at times of the day or night that complement onshore renewables, delivering a more consistent, cleaner energy supply for WA,” he said.
He added that renewables supplied a record 56% of generation to Western Australia’s main electricity grid in November.
Bowen also announced the opening of applications for research and demonstration licences to support offshore renewable technology trials. “Applications for R&D licences are now open for all of Australia’s six offshore wind zones,” he said, adding that the licences would provide certainty for developers, universities and research bodies to test new technologies in Australian waters.
No feasibility licences will be issued in the Illawarra after BlueFloat withdrew its application, while a preliminary decision has been made not to offer licences in the Bass Strait due to a lack of competitive bids. Both zones will remain available for research and testing under the R&D licence framework, the ministers said.
