Feasibility license awarded for Southern Ocean offshore wind project

THE federal government has released the first feasibility license for the Southern Ocean offshore wind zone.

Alinta Energy and JERA Nex – Parkwind will be given the opportunity to assess the feasibility of its Spinifex Offshore Wild Farm.

Spinifex has the capacity to generate 1.2 gigawatts of electricity, enough to supply around ten per cent of Victoria’s electricity needs.

It also supports Victoria’s target of meeting net zero by 2045 and delivering at least two gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2032.

The Southern Ocean offshore wind zone was declared in March this year and covers 1,030km2 offshore from Warrnambool and Port Fairy.

Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen said the license marked a big step toward powering communities and industries across Southwest Victoria.

“I’ve made a preliminary decision to offer a feasibility licence to Spinifex’s project, which will support thousands of new, high-value jobs and a future made in regional Victoria.

“Offshore wind represents a huge opportunity for regional Australia, providing reliable renewables to power homes and heavy industry while creating highly skilled and well-paid jobs now and into the future.”

Victorian Minister for Climate Action, Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio agreed.

“Victoria has world-class offshore wind resources and we look forward to Spinifex harnessing that to create reliable renewable energy for our homes and businesses and to share the benefits of this with the local community through jobs, local supply chains and community benefit sharing program,” she said.

“Offshore wind will create real benefits for Victoria and Australia’s renewable energy production – creating hundreds of jobs, support for our key industries and reliable renewable energy as coal-fired power plants close.”

Surfers for Climate chief executive officer Joel Kirkman said they were stoked to see a sustainable approach making waves, particularly in regard to climate change.

“Offshore wind, when done well, with strong environmental research and mitigation for impacts from the development, is a massive opportunity for coastal people, who don’t want continued fossil fuel exploration in their ocean and want reliable and long-term jobs for local people.

“As surfers, we know that the protection of highly sensitive ecological areas, such as the Bonney Upwelling and whale and bird migration paths, are of the highest priority to local people.

“We want to see this community concern addressed in the feasibility studies and in the Government’s assessment of these studies.”

Mr Kirkman said Surfers for Climate expect Alinta Energy and JERA Nex to undertake rigorous assessments and address any potential community concern or environmental impacts of the project.

“We also call on them to prioritise a local workforce and provide meaningful opportunities for local companies to be priority supply chain partners to the project.”

During the feasibility licence stage, licence holders will undertake detailed environmental assessments, including potential approvals under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

Spinifex will have a community benefit sharing program and have already identified local businesses and industry that can be part of the project.

Consultation on potential offshore wind projects will occur at multiple stages of the regulatory process and continue throughout the life of any project approved for construction.

The federal government and key project stakeholders will now undertake further consultation with First Nations groups before making a final decision on the feasibility licence.