Planning is underway for a 1.65 GW floating offshore wind farm to be located between The Entrance and Newcastle with a drop-in information session to be held on November 8.
The Hunter Coast Offshore Wind Project is set to be located 25-55 kilometres off the coast and is expected to comprise 110 floating offshore turbines, each with a capacity between 15 MW and 20 MW, as well as three floating substations.
The project is proposed to connect to the grid at the former Munmorah Power Station site.
It is being jointly developed by BlueFloat Energy and Energy Estate with a shared set of development principles which include a focus on early and honest engagement and genuine partnerships.
BlueFloat Energy is a leading global offshore wind developer with a portfolio of projects in multiple geographies and Energy Estate is an Australian company with a mission to accelerate the transformation of the energy sector and the decarbonisation of industry.
The developers acknowledge a project of this scale will have some impacts and are committed to working closely with the community and other stakeholders to deliver honest, transparent and informative engagement.
The first two drop-in sessions are to be held this month, on November 9 in Newcastle and on Tuesday, November from 4-7 pm at Diggers @ The Entrance.
The developers will also host a webinar on Thursday, November 10, from 5-6pm.
“An offshore wind project is complex and typically takes 6- 11 years to carry out feasibility activities, obtain the necessary approvals and to be built,” they said.
“We are currently in the feasibility, development and approvals stage of the project.
“We will need environmental and planning approvals under State and Commonwealth processes.
“A co-ordinated approach will be used to assess the cultural heritage, environmental, economic and social impact of our project.”
They are in the process of organising referral of the project under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act), expected to occur in December.
They will then require a feasibility licence under the Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Act 2021, to be assessed by the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator (NOPTA).
A preliminary visual simulation is available on the Hunter Coast Offshore Wind Project website: www.huntercoastowp.com.au.
Source:
Media release, Nov 2
Hunter Coast Offshore Wind Project