Australia has declared the more than 11GW Bunbury offshore wind zone in the Indian Ocean.
The Albanese government’s said its Reliable Renewables Plan is being rolled out across Western Australia, with the 11.4GW area off the coast of Bunbury.
This new industry will help secure WA’s energy future, unlock thousands of renewable energy jobs and provide cleaner, cheaper, and reliable energy for the resources heavy state, it said.
Following extensive consultation with local leaders, industry, fishers, unions, First Nations people and community groups the Bunbury offshore wind zone has been amended.
It will now be at least 30km from shore at its closest point, and excludes more than 60% of the recreational fishing areas requested for exclusion including Naturaliste Reef and provides further separation from breeding areas and migratory paths for Southern Right Whales.
The final area covers 4000 square kilometres – reducing the zone by about half.
The government said It will bring new employment opportunities to WA, creating close to 7000 jobs during construction and around 3500 ongoing positions for engineers, electrical technicians, cable installers, boilermakers, crane operators, riggers, seafarers, dockworkers and administrators.
The Bunbury offshore wind industry has the potential to support 11.4GW of electricity, enough to power all the homes and manufacturing industries in the south-west.
As well as providing reliable renewable energy to Australian industry, offshore wind projects will be required to maximise their use of the country’s supply chains and closely consult with local industry and workers on their project plans, ensuring local workers and businesses benefit from the establishment of this new industry.
The Minister expects recreational fishers will be able to travel and fish within the offshore wind zone, which already occurs internationally in the UK and Denmark.
In those jurisdictions turbines are around 2km apart with an exclusion zone of just 50 metres around turbines. It means fishing vessels can go about their normal operations within a wind farm.
The application period for feasibility licences in the declared Bunbury offshore wind zone opens 3 September and closes on 6 November 2024.
These will only be awarded to developers whose proposed projects do the most to incorporate Australian materials and manufacturing, consult with local industry, protect the environment, share the marine space and provide benefits to workers, businesses and communities.
Construction can only begin after the feasibility stage is completed and bidders have gained subsequent environmental and management plan approvals.
Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen said the declared area was a vital step towards securing WA’s energy grid with reliable renewables.
“Today marks a crucial step towards creating thousands of regional jobs and securing WA’s energy needs well into the future,” he said.
“With an estimated 50 GW of new generation required by 2042, Western Australia needs new sources of electricity to power homes and industry.
“Offshore wind can help meet that demand – harnessing consistent, high-speed winds to provide reliable renewable energy throughout the day and night, with one rotation of an offshore turbine generating as much power as an average rooftop solar installation makes in a day.”
Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Josh Wilson added: “This is another example of the Albanese government shifting the dial towards a future built on clean, cheaper, reliable renewable energy coupled with new jobs and business opportunities for the vibrant South West of WA.
“Adding offshore wind to WA’s diversity of renewable options is particularly important in WA’s electricity network because it’s a self-contained system, unlike the interconnected system in the Eastern states.”