Draft:Offshore wind power in Australia

Australia is home to a number of planned offshore wind projects. The Australian government has announced six offshore wind zones, located in the Gippsland and Southern Ocean regions of Victoria, the Illawarra and Hunter regions of New South Wales, the Bass Strait north-west of Tasmania, and off the coast of Bunbury in Western Australia.^[1] In 2021, Australia passed the Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Act, establishing the Offshore Infrastructure Regulator (OIR) and giving it the power to license and regulate offshore renewable energy infrastructure in these zones. In May 2024, the OIR granted its first feasibility licenses, giving developers the right to conduct assessments of the feasibility of full-scale commercial projects in the Gippsland offshore wind zone.

Offshore wind power has been controversial among residents of many of the areas slated for offshore wind development. The primary concerns expressed in consultations have included the potential for damage to marine environments and to the visual landscape. The Coalition under Peter Dutton has pledged to scrap some offshore wind zones if elected. Several of Australia's offshore wind zones have been scaled down or moved further from the coastline in response to consultation with communities.

History

Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Act

Locations

Gippsland

Hunter

Southern Ocean

Illawarra

Bass Strait

Bunbury

Criticism

Sources

References

^ "Australia's offshore wind areas". Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. Archived from the original on 2025-01-09. Retrieved 2025-01-24.
^ "Legislative framework". Offshore Infrastructure Regulator. Retrieved 2025-01-24.
^ "Grant of first feasibility licences". Offshore Infrastructure Regulator. 1 May 2024. Retrieved 2025-01-24.
^ Larkin, Natasha; Carr, Chantel; Klocker, Natascha (2024-01-02). "Building an offshore wind sector in Australia: economic opportunities and constraints at the regional scale". Australian Geographer. 55 (1): 45–68. doi:10.1080/00049182.2023.2276144. ISSN 0004-9182.
^ MacDonald-Smith, Angela (2024-10-20). "Offshore wind ambitions in disarray as key players walk". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 2025-01-24.
^ Memija, Adnan (2024-07-17). "Australia Approves Twelve Offshore Wind Projects, Set to Generate 25 GW Capacity". offshoreWIND.biz. Retrieved 2025-01-24.
^ Vorrath, Sophie (2024-12-05). "Peter Dutton vows to scrap offshore wind zone, "rip up contracts" and sink $10 billion project". Renew Economy. Retrieved 2025-01-24.

[1] "Australia's offshore wind areas". Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. Archived from the original on 2025-01-09. Retrieved 2025-01-24.

[2] "Legislative framework". Offshore Infrastructure Regulator. Retrieved 2025-01-24.

[3] "Grant of first feasibility licences". Offshore Infrastructure Regulator. 1 May 2024. Retrieved 2025-01-24.

[4] Larkin, Natasha; Carr, Chantel; Klocker, Natascha (2024-01-02). "Building an offshore wind sector in Australia: economic opportunities and constraints at the regional scale". Australian Geographer. 55 (1): 45–68. doi:10.1080/00049182.2023.2276144. ISSN 0004-9182.

[5] MacDonald-Smith, Angela (2024-10-20). "Offshore wind ambitions in disarray as key players walk". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 2025-01-24.

[6] Memija, Adnan (2024-07-17). "Australia Approves Twelve Offshore Wind Projects, Set to Generate 25 GW Capacity". offshoreWIND.biz. Retrieved 2025-01-24.

[7] Vorrath, Sophie (2024-12-05). "Peter Dutton vows to scrap offshore wind zone, "rip up contracts" and sink $10 billion project". Renew Economy. Retrieved 2025-01-24.

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