The Australian Government has awarded three preliminary feasibility licences in Western Australia’s Bunbury Offshore Wind Zone.
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In the southern area of the zone, Westward Wind and Bunbury Offshore Wind South have resolved an overlap between their projects. They join a third project, also owned by Bunbury Offshore Wind Farm project, in the northern area of the zone that is currently in consultation for a preliminary feasibility licence.
The three proposed offshore wind projects off the coast of Bunbury could generate a total of 4GW—enough to power around 2.7 million homes.
Traditional owners will now have time to consider the impacts of the Westward Wind and Bunbury Offshore Wind projects before they are offered a final feasibility licence.
Wind With Purpose is still responding to an initial decision not to grant them a licence for the Catalpa Offshore Wind Farm.
Australia’s offshore wind industry is progressing, with feasibility licences granted for projects targeting a total of 24.21GW of renewable energy and preliminary offers for another 4GW. The three west coast projects add to the 12 feasibility projects currently under development on the east coast, with more to come.
Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen said, “In Bunbury, offshore wind has huge potential for jobs, new industry, and clean, reliable renewable energy in the regions which have powered Australia for generations.
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“Western Australia needs some 50GW of additional generation by 2042, and we’re getting to work making sure that we deliver the new clean energy, and the good jobs, the West needs.”
