Offshore Windfarms
Generating electricity from offshore wind has significant benefits in emissions reductions. However, it also brings potential risks to seabirds. These include deaths as a result of direct collisions, displacement away from preferred habitats caused by disturbance from operating turbines and associated ship and helicopter traffic, barrier effects that impact preferred movement/migration routes, and attraction by artificial resting sites and increased food availability, associated with the creation of new substrate at turbine bases and fishing bans near sites. Although the effects of these different impacts are often not easily separable, it is important to consider them when assessing the impact of new wind energy developments.
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Offshore wind farms have been in operation in Europe for over 20 years but are a much more recent area of interest in Australasia although their development is projected to be relatively rapid with consultation processes underway for offshore renewable energy projects including in Bass Strait and other parts of in Australia, and off the coast of Taranaki and Waikato in New Zealand.
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​To identify areas within Australia’s EEZ potentially suitable for the development of offshore wind, the Federal Government used five criteria as the basis for site selection. These were (a) strong and consistent winds, (b) proximity to areas of high electricity demand, (c) existing electricity transmission infrastructure, (d) existing transport and port infrastructure, and (e) industry that was interested in developing projects in these areas. To date, six areas inside Australia’s EEZ have been identified as suitable for the potential production of offshore renewable energy, primarily (but not exclusively) from wind. The six areas are Gippsland, Hunter, Illawarra, Southern Ocean off Victoria, Bass Strait and Indian Ocean off Bunbury in Western Australia. Following the identification of these areas, the Federal Government opens a period of public consultation, which is followed by a final declaration of extent by the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. Once these declarations have been made, the offshore renewable industry submits applications for licences to undertake feasibility studies in the areas. Further information is available at https://www.dcceew.gov.au/energy/renewable/offshore-wind.
1. Gippsland, Vic
The area off Gippsland was declared on 19 December 2022, and covers approximately 15,000km2. It is offshore of Lakes Entrance in the east and to south of Wilsons Promontory in the west. This area is believed to have a potential power generation of 25GW. As of May 2024, a number of feasibility licenses have been granted. Further details are at https://www.dcceew.gov.au/energy/renewable/offshore-wind/areas/gippsland.
2. Hunter, NWS
An area in the Pacific Ocean off the Hunter was declared on 12 July 2023. The declared area has a maximum size of approximately 1,854km2. The declared area extends from offshore of Norah Head in the south to Port Stephens in the north. The area is adjacent to the NSW Government’s proposed Hunter Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone. This area is believed to have a potential power generation of 5.2GW, and as of May 2024, the Federal Government is assessing the feasibility licence applications received. Further details are at https://www.dcceew.gov.au/energy/renewable/offshore-wind/areas/hunter.
3. Southern Ocean, Victoria
An area in the Southern Ocean off Victoria was declared on 6 March 2024. The declared area extends between Warrnambool and Port Fairy in western Victoria, and is approximately 1,030km2 in extent. It is believed to have a potential power generation of 2.9GW. As of May 2024, the Federal Government is receiving applications for feasibility licences. The declared area is close to the Portland aluminium smelter, and there are coal-fired power stations in the region that are approaching their end-of-life closures. Further details are at https://www.dcceew.gov.au/energy/renewable/offshore-wind/areas/southern-ocean-region.
4. Illawarra, NSW
An area in the Pacific Ocean off the Illawarra was declared by the Minister on 15 June 2024. The proposed area is 1,022km2 and extends offshore of Wombarra in the north to Kiama in the south. It is believed to have a potential power generation of 2.9GW. The proposed area is close to existing grid connections associated with the Tallawarra Power Station and Port Kembla. The area is adjacent to the NSW Government’s proposed Illawarra Renewable Energy Zone. Further details are at https://www.dcceew.gov.au/energy/renewable/offshore-wind/areas/illawarra.
5. Bass Strait, northern Tasmania
An area of 10,136km2 in Bass Strait off the coast of Northern Tasmania was proposed by the Minister on 24 October 2023. This is the second-largest area, only smaller than the Gippsland Declared Area (c.15,000km2). The arc of the northern extent of the proposed area abuts the arc on the southern extent of the Gippsland Declared Area (see map above), creating a continuous north-south renewable energy production area. The proposed area extends offshore of Bridport in the east to Burnie in the west, and is believed to have a potential power generation of 28GW. As with the Illawarra area, the public consultation period has ended, and the next step will be the declaration of the area’s extent. Further details are at https://www.dcceew.gov.au/energy/renewable/offshore-wind/areas/bass-strait.
6. Indian Ocean off the Bunbury region, Western Australia
An area in the Indian Ocean off the Bunbury region, Western Australia was declared on 30 August 2024. The proposed area covers 3995km2 and is set back at least 30km from shore. The area is located between Dawesville and Cape Naturaliste. The area is believed to have a potential power generation of 11.4GW. Further details are at https://www.dcceew.gov.au/energy/renewable/offshore-wind/areas/bunbury