Australia’s leading offshore wind project, Star of the South, has announced a number of key design changes following five years of feasibility studies and consultation.
These include reducing the number of turbines from 200 to 150, reflecting advancements in turbine technology. The turbines will be positioned to avoid high profile reefs, to protect marine habitat, and the gap between the ocean and turbine blades has increased from 25m to 35m, based on bird flight height data, to provide a safe zone for seabirds to fly and forage.
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Established and cutting-edge technologies to reduce underwater construction noise are also being explored, to ensure the right measures are in place to protect whales, while a ‘no trench’ construction method will be used where cables come to shore, to protect the beach and dunes above.
Work is also underway to adapt the project’s underground transmission route, in line with VicGrid requirements.
Star of the South secured a Commonwealth Feasibility Licence in May which confirmed the project’s location at least 10km off the coast—a further 3km offshore than originally planned.
Star of the South CEO Charles Rattray said these updates have been shaped by detailed marine environment data collected over three years on whales, birds, fish, and seabed habitats.
“Using this scientific data, we can make evidence-based decisions about how to best design, construct and operate the project in a way that is sensitive to the local environment,” he said.
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The project’s recent updates come as Southerly Ten, the specialist offshore wind developer behind Star of the South, launched the Offshore Wind Net Positive Challenge in partnership with the Ocean Impact Organisation.
If built to its full capacity, Star of the South would generate enough electricity for 1.2 million homes, inject around $3 billion into the Gippsland economy and create up to 200 long-term local jobs across 30 years of operations.
