Asecond overseas energy company is exploring the possibility of an offshore wind farm along the South East coast.
Last August, the UK-based Australis Energy revealed plans for a 600MW offshore wind farm that could power more than 400,000 South Australian homes.
Located 10km off the coast from Kingston, the touted $1.8b project would comprise up to 75 wind turbines measuring up to 260-metre high.
The latest local offshore wind farm probe has come from Spanish company Blue Float Energy and is in its preliminary stage.
Country manager Nick Sankey has told Adelaide-based online newspaper In Daily that his company was assessing sites off the South East coast and is in talks with the State Government.
“In our site analysis we look for a good consistent wind resource, proximity to connect to the grid and the right marine environment – to combine all of them, we have found the South East coast has potentially attractive areas leading down into Victoria,” Mr Sankey said.
“We are considering multiple sites, but as to how many to develop, that will be down to the process – ideally we’d like to come out in the next few months with an announcement of our next sites.”
Blue Float Energy is also looking at Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania in partnership with Australian consultants Energy Estate.
They have identified locations offshore from the Hunter Coast, Wollongong and Gippsland.
Mr Sankey said he was waiting for Federal Energy Minister Angus Taylor to formally declare which areas will be eligible for offshore wind and grant licences.
At this point, developers can put monitoring equipment into the water and start more detailed studies.
Offshore wind farms are said to harness stronger and more reliable ocean winds.
The green light for their use in Australian waters came in November after the Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Bill passed Federal Parliament.
Meanwhile, the Australis Energy Impact Assessment for Kingston was submitted to the State Government in August. Subject to planning and environmental approval, Australis Energy hopes to start construction in 2024/25 and be generating electricity by 2027.
It is 20 years since the region’s first onshore wind farm began generating energy on the Woakwine Range alongside Lake Bonney.
There are now 136 wind turbines in this area with 112 of them operated by Spanish company Iberdrola.
