Australia rolls out financial relief for offshore wind projects

The relief includes reduction of fees to apply for a research and demonstration licence.

Australia has implemented temporary fee and levy relief for offshore wind projects, easing the financial burden and allowing companies to focus more of their funds on their developments.

The Amendments to the Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Regulations 2022 provide temporary financial relief for licence holders for two years.

Under the measure, the government waives the annual levies for feasibility and research and demonstration licences, halves annual levies for transmission and infrastructure licences, reduces the fees to apply for a research and demonstration licence from $300,000 to $20,000, and reduces the fee to apply for a transmission and infrastructure licence from $300,000 to $150,000.

Developers are still required to undertake an environmental assessment and consult with affected communities.