BlueFloat consortium plans 5 GW of offshore wind projects in New Zealand

A consortium involving Madrid-based floating wind firm BlueFloat Energy on Tuesday announced plans to develop four offshore wind projects in New Zealand with a potential capacity of up to 5 GW.

The plans for the projects, to be located in Taranaki, Southland and Waikato, were unveiled at the 2022 Wind Energy Association Wananga.

The consortium also includes Australian clean energy company Energy Estate and New Zealand-based consultancy Elemental Group. Its formation was announced in 2021.

The partners said today that Beach Energy New Zealand has agreed a Doppler Light Detection and Ranging system (LiDAR) to be installed on the Kupe platform it operates offshore South Taranaki and to share the data collected with multiple offshore wind developers. This is reducing the need for duplication and fostering collaboration.

“New Zealand is blessed with world class offshore wind resources and the potential to develop the offshore wind industry here is enormous,” said Energy Estate co-founder Simon Currie.

The partners say the first turbines can be in the water before the end of the decade if the regulatory framework is in place and all needed approvals are secured.

BlueFloat Energy and Energy Estate are also partnering on offshore wind in Australia.

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