The Federal Government is rolling out its Reliable Renewables Plan across Western Australia, including the declaration of a new offshore wind zone off the coast of Bunbury.
Following consultation with local leaders, industry, fishers, unions, First Nations people and community groups, the proposed Bunbury offshore wind zone has been amended.
It will now be at least 30km from shore at its closest point, excluding more than 60 per cent of the recreational fishing areas requested for exclusion including Naturaliste Reef and providing further separation from breeding areas and migratory paths for Southern Right Whales.
The final area covers 4,000km2, reducing the zone by about half.
The Federal Government said it will bring new employment opportunities to Western Australia, creating close to 7,000 jobs during construction and around 3,500 ongoing jobs for engineers, electrical technicians, cable installers, boilermakers, crane operators, riggers, seafarers, dockworkers and administrators.
The Bunbury offshore wind industry has the potential to support 11.4GW of electricity, enough to power all the homes and manufacturing industries in the southwest.
As well as providing reliable renewable energy to Australian industry, offshore wind projects will be required to maximise their use of Australian supply chains and closely consult with local industry and workers on their project plans, ensuring local workers and businesses benefit from the establishment of this new industry.
Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, said that he expects recreational fishers will be able to travel and fish within the offshore wind zone, which already occurs internationally in the UK and Denmark.
In those jurisdictions, turbines are around 2km apart with an exclusion zone of just 50m around turbines. The Federal Government said that this means fishing vessels can go about their normal operations within a wind farm.
The application period for feasibility licences in the declared Bunbury offshore wind zone is now open and closes on 6 November 2024.
The Federal Government said that licences will only be awarded to developers whose proposed projects do the most to incorporate Australian materials and manufacturing, consult with local industry, protect the environment, share the marine space and provide benefits to workers, businesses and communities.
Construction can only begin after the feasibility stage is completed and developers have gained subsequent environmental and management plan approvals.
Mr Bowen said the declared area was a vital step towards securing Western Australia’s energy grid with reliable renewables.
“Today marks a crucial step towards creating thousands of regional jobs and securing Western Australia’s energy needs well into the future,” Mr Bowen said.
“With an estimated 50GW of new generation required by 2042, Western Australia needs new sources of electricity to power homes and industry.
“Offshore wind can help meet that demand – harnessing consistent, high-speed winds to provide reliable renewable energy throughout the day and night, with one rotation of an offshore turbine generating as much power as an average rooftop solar installation makes in a day.”
Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Josh Wilson, said that this is another example of the Federal Government shifting the dial towards a future built on clean, cheaper, reliable renewable energy coupled with new jobs and business opportunities for the vibrant southwest of Western Australia.
“Adding offshore wind to Western Australia’s diversity of renewable options is particularly important in Western Australia’s electricity network because it’s a self-contained system, unlike the interconnected system in the Eastern states.”
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