Australia’s Minister for Climate Change and Energy has made a preliminary decision to grant a feasibility licence for an offshore wind project in the Southern Ocean area off the Victorian coast.
The 1.2GW Spinifex offshore wind project will move to the next stage of the feasibility licensing process.
Following the grant of a feasibility licence, the feasibility licence holder will consult various organisations and groups that may be impacted by the development, including First Nations groups
undertake detailed studies, including environmental studies, to determine the viability of the project and
develop management plans to outline how all stages of the project will be undertaken.
Spinifex is being developed by Alinta Energy and Parkwind, which is part of JERA Nex.
Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, said: “My decision today is a big step towards powering communities and industries across Southwest Victoria with reliable renewables delivered by an offshore wind industry.
“I’ve made a preliminary decision to offer a feasibility licence to Spinifex’s project, which will support hundreds of new, high-value jobs and a future made in regional Victoria.
“Offshore wind represents a huge opportunity for regional Australia, providing reliable renewables to power homes and heavy industry while creating highly skilled and well-paid jobs now and into the future.”