Danish renewable energy company Copenhagen Energy has unveiled plans to build a massive offshore wind farm off the coast of Western Australia between Mandurah and Bunbury.
The plan will compete with four other proposals to power the state with offshore clean energy, according to WA Today.
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Copenhagen Energy plans to survey 4200 square kilometres of ocean to decide where to locate its Leeuwin Offshore Wind Farm, which at its maximum output would generate more than three times the power of the Muja coal-fired station in Collie, making it the biggest offshore wind project in the country.
Copenhagen Energy chief executive Jasmin Bejdic said there was a need for offshore wind to supplement the clean energy from solar panels and onshore wind farms.
Construction of the 3GW project that will see 200 wind turbine towers fixed to the seabed could start as early as 2026.
Mr Bejdic said demand for offshore wind power would come after the closure of coal-fired power stations in Collie and the electrification of industry wanting to stop burning gas.
“That electrification is likely to lead to an increase in electricity demand, similar to what we’ve seen in other countries,” he said.
The Leeuwin Offshore Wind Farm, with more than twice the capacity of all of WA’s rooftop solar, would send its power to near Kemerton where existing transmission lines now take power from Collie to Perth.
Related article: Victoria’s offshore wind targets signals ‘bright future’
In addition to the Danish firm Copenhagen Energy, Flotation Energy has revealed a 500MW wind farm south of Rottnest, Australis Energy plans 300MW near the coast north of Myalup and Oceanex are pursuing the more distant 2GW Bunbury wind farm north of Dunsborough. ASX-listed Pilot Energy in also investigating a wind project off the mid-west coast of WA.
Read the full report here.
