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More good news for offshore wind proponents down under, with the Hon Chris Bowen (Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy) yesterday announcing six bidders have won feasibility licences for Australia’s first offshore wind farm zone off Gippsland, in Victoria. High Sea Wind, Gippsland Skies, Blue Mackerel North, Kut-Wut Brataualung, Ørsted Offshore Australia 1 and Star of the South Wind Farm, have all been selected to proceed, after submitting applications last year. The government also intends on granting a further six licences to Iberdrola Australia OW 2 (for its Aurora Green wind farm), Greater Gippsland 2 OWP Project (Gippsland Dawn), Navigator North Project, Ørsted Offshore Australia 1 (Gippsland 02), Kent Offshore Wind and Great Eastern Offshore Wind Farm Project Co. Strong and reliable offshore winds and bringing to market large-scale projects means offshore wind farms would provide a significant and reliable source of dispatchable power into Australia’s energy system. Offshore wind projects can be located near key power producing regions, which would reduce the need for additional transmission lines. Australia’s low-carbon economy is beaconing, and offshore wind projects will contribute by generating new jobs and economic development, in particular in some regional centres. Click on the article below to read more from Minister Bowen’s announcement. Source: ABC. #renewables #cleanenergy #wind #offshore #energytransition

The offshore wind farm planned for the Illawarra takes a turn as major developers Equinor and Oceanex choose not to bid for a licence in the $10 billion project. Norwegian oil and gas giant, Equinor, has announced its decision to abandon plans for the 2.9 gigawatt project off the coast of the Illawarra. "Equinor decided not to submit a feasibility licence application for the Illawarra offshore wind zone," a spokesperson for the company confirmed. The decision comes as part of an ongoing review of the company's early-stage investments. "We carefully evaluated risk factors currently affecting the global industry and conducted project-specific and site-specific assessments." Equinor and Oceanex have secured a provisional feasibility licence for the Hunter offshore wind zone, which extends from Norah Head to Port Stephens. They will now focus their efforts on this region, with the project expected to generate enough energy to power 1.2 million homes. Amanda de Lore, Vice President of anti-offshore wind farm group Responsible Future, welcomed the developers' exit from the Illawarra project. “We would welcome the opportunity to discuss viable alternatives for the Illawarra with the Minister [Bowen] and re-engage with the community so we can start to heal” says de Lore. In a press conference today, Energy Minister Chris Bowen has quashed any suspicions that the government should readdress the size of the zone to attract larger developers. “The suggestion that there are no applications for the Illawarra zone is utterly wrong,” Bowen says, “There are six zones around Australia, not every proponent has to apply for every zone.” Former Liberal MP for Bega, Andrew Constance, commented on the decision, criticising the current government. "The decision of Equinor and Oceanex to walk away is embarrassing for the Albanese Government, who have achieved nothing other than dividing our community again." Member for Gilmore, Fiona Phillips has hit back at Constance’s claims and has stated the project remains on track. “I really wish Andrew Constance and Responsible Future Illawarra would stop with the misinformation and negativity.” With feasibility licence applications now closed, construction in the offshore wind area can only proceed once developers receive environmental and management plan approvals, in line with relevant legislation. The Bugle App Kiama NSW Your local news hub

Exciting news on the renewables front! Six bidders have secured feasibility licenses for Australia's first offshore wind farm zone off Gippsland. This major step brings us closer to a clean energy future. Did you know... 💨 Offshore wind can be put near existing power producing regions and infrastructure, which reduces the need for new transmission lines. 👷🏽♀️ Offshore wind can create new jobs that workers in industries that are winding down/phasing down can transfer into. 💪🏽 Strong and reliable offshore winds, and the potential to build large projects, means that offshore wind farms can provide a big and reliable source of dispatchable power to our energy system.

Big news in the Australian Renewable space today, six offshore wind projects have been given their feasibility licenses to secure a spot in Australia’s first offshore wind zone, located off the Gippsland coast in east Victoria. These licenses will allow the seven companies running the potential projects to undertake environmental assessments, surveys and their associated approvals. There were 25 applications denied feasibility licenses, which goes to show the bustling business opportunity in renewable energy sector in Australia. These projects are still a while away from getting approved and underway, but what exciting news from our renewable sector! For more information see the article below: https://lnkd.in/gUWETyRX #energy #wind #renewables #environment #consultants

Chair of CORIF (the Cork Offshore Renewable Industry Forum) Catherine Sheridan welcomed today’s piece in the Irish Examiner on the potential of Ireland’s offshore wind sector:   “Ireland has immense potential to develop a thriving offshore wind sector and Cork is ideally placed to become the first of the national hubs for the offshore renewable energy sector. As William (Bill) Duggan and James Carton state in today’s Irish Examiner, the development of Ireland’s ports, including the Port of Cork Company Ltd., must be fast-tracked to ensure the required infrastructure is put in place now to facilitate the development of the renewable energy sector into the future."   “Growing Cork’s offshore renewables capacity will unlock significant social and economic benefits for Ireland as a whole. Investment in critical infrastructure must be prioritised by Government now – the estimates indicate any investment will be more than repaid to the Exchequer over the coming years and will be critical if we are to reach our climate targets and attract new clean industries.” https://lnkd.in/ey2rVVFT

And then there were 12. Australia’s Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen MP has announced a further six feasibility licences for the Gippsland Offshore Wind Zone in Victoria: - Iberdrola Australia OW 2 Pty Ltd (Aurora Green) - Greater Gippsland 2 OWP Project Pty Ltd (Gippsland Dawn) BlueFloat Energy Australia   - Navigator North Project Pty Ltd Origin Energy and RES - Ørsted Offshore Australia 1 Pty Ltd (Gippsland 02) - Kent Offshore Wind Pty Ltd RWE - Great Eastern Offshore Wind Farm Project Co Pty Ltd. Corio Generation   Congratulations! These developers can now commence the detailed assessment work to determine feasibility, including environmental studies and management plans. Victoria's abundant offshore wind resources are among the world's best, and according to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, these projects could generate 25 GW of offshore wind energy, which is more electricity than the entire state of Victoria generated last year. At GeelongPort, we see massive potential for Geelong as a renewables hub to support Victoria’s burgeoning clean energy sector. The port is progressing plans to develop 25 hectares of land for a purpose-built wind farm construction port to meet the unique needs of offshore wind developments. Learn more about our proposed renewables terminal here: https://lnkd.in/geZdzJMG   This announcement is another exciting step forward for the offshore wind industry in Australia and Victoria. #offshorewind #renewablesindustry #renewables #netzero #windfarms #Victoria #logisitics #renewableenergy #ports

THE ENGINEER (UK) Standardisation and investment needed to unlock future of floating wind A Westwood Global Energy Group survey has revealed that accelerated investment, regulation and supply chain coordination is needed if the offshore wind sector is to meet its ambitious targets. The research, developed in partnership with Norwegian Offshore Wind and World Forum Offshore Wind (WFO), surveyed 184 floating offshore wind stakeholders on industry sentiment and attitudes across the value chain. The survey revealed a lack of standardisation of floating technology (55 per cent), manufacturing capability and capacity (51 per cent) and port infrastructure (50 per cent) as the most cited major hurdles and risks to progress for floating offshore. With this, Westwood said that calls are ringing out for governments to provide more specific policy and regulatory support for technology development, in addition to cost reduction and investment in port infrastructure to accelerate adoption. It was also found that 42 per cent of European respondents were less optimistic about the floating offshore wind sector than they were two years ago, compared with 30 per cent for non-Europe. Globally, 44 per cent of developers were found to be more optimistic about the sector than two years ago, whereas that decreased to just under a quarter of supply chain respondents, potentially pointing to a lag in projects coming to tender for their services.

Victoria’s offshore wind industry has suffered a new big disappointment over the future of its essential renewable terminal facility, which also raises serious questions about the State’s future energy supplies and decarbonisation program. In yet another energy policy setback, the Victorian Government has announced that the Port of Hastings renewable terminal for its ambitious offshore wind program off the Gippsland Coast will be delayed for at least two years to 2030, the time it will take to have a new modified application to get approval and construction to begin. It’s still a gamble for Victoria to continue to put forward the Port of Hastings as there are environmental constraints on the site that has already seen the original application knocked back by the Federal Environment Minister in January this year. This further delay will have knock on effects right across both Victoria and Australia’s energy supply chains. The end result is that it’s highly likely that scheduled closures of Victoria’s brown coal power stations due to start by 2028 will be delayed, and it puts further pressure on Victoria’s looming gas shortages. Major developments of offshore wind slated for the supply of 2GW of wind by 2032 ratcheting up to 9GWs by the 2040s were to fill the gas and coal void but that looks now most unlikely in the short to medium term. With all this uncertainty over port facilities, it's likely Victoria will have to consider other site options to give reassurance to offshore wind investors who have shown strong interest in the Gippsland project. This includes the possibility of shipping in hundreds of giant turbines and towers from interstate ports, a huge logistical challenge. The Victorian Government has expressed frustration about a lack of national strategy on offshore wind after being blindsided by the Federal Government's rejection of its original Port of Hastings renewable terminal application on environmental grounds, relating to The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. There are still questions as to whether any new modified Hastings proposal can get around this environment constraint and succeed. Offshore wind is new in Australia and continues to throw up new and unexpected challenges for policy makers. #VictoriaOffShoreWindBlow

Offshore wind a step closer after the grant of 6 feasibility licences. Six more wait in the wings too. A tremendous step forward on the path to sustainable energy production.