Western Australia bares progress is offshore wind development

The state needs 50 GW of additional generation by 2042.

Western Australia has laid out efforts it is taking to boost its offshore wind generation capacity.

In Western Australia’s Bunbury zone, two new offshore wind projects are set to be built. There is the 1.5 gigawatt (GW) Bunbury Offshore Wind Farm Pty Ltd in the north that can power about one million homes.

Other shortlisted projects are the Westward Wind Pty Ltd and an additional project from Bunbury Offshore Wind Pty Ltd for a preliminary feasibility licence in the southern area of the zone.

The two applicants will now seek to resolve the overlap between them.

Authorities expect two of the three applicants will progress one project each to the next stage of the development process where a feasibility license will be considered.

On the East Coast, in the Hunter offshore wind zone, Novocastrian Wind Pty Ltd has requested additional time to develop commercial arrangements to deliver the best outcome for the Hunter community.  

The government has also decided not to offer a feasibility licence to Seadragon in the Gippsland zone.

“Western Australia needs some 50 GW 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,” said Chris Bowen MP, Minister for Climate Change and Energy.