May 02, 2024
Today at
23:37
Six projects, including one from Engie and one from Leuven developer Parkwind, have secured licenses in the very first auction for the development of offshore wind farms in Australia.
The government of the state of Victoria, in southern Australia, has awarded the first licenses to companies wanting to develop offshore wind projects. Of the 37 submitted applications, six received a so-called feasibility license. They therefore have a chance of building the very first Australian offshore wind farms. Six other projects passed an inspection, but first the indigenous peoples (First Nations) consult.
The High Sea Wind project by Engies is among the first six winners
offshore division and Blue Mackerel North of the Leuven offshore wind farm builder Parkwind (ex-Colruyt) and its new British-Japanese parent Jera Nex. Other winners were consortia around offshore specialists such as Ørsted, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and Mainstream Renewable Power, all with projects of at least 1,000 megawatts.
The feasibility license or feasibility permit is the first step in preparing the construction of an offshore wind farm and further developing the plans. With this license, site works can already be carried out, such as installing devices to measure wind speeds. A commercial permit will later be required for operation.
Parkwind had already submitted its application last year for a project in the Bass Strait, off the coast of Gippsland in the state of Victoria, together with the Australian Beach Energy, which is involved in gas extraction in the region.
Other plans
Parkwind and Jera Nex also announced plans for another zone in the same Australian state last week. They took a stake in Spinifex Offshore, a wind project prepared by Australian energy supplier Alinta Energy. A license was therefore applied for.
