BlueFloat, Energy Estate plan 1.2-GW Aussie offshore wind project

Australia’s Energy Estate and Madrid-based BlueFloat Energy on Thursday announced a 1.2-GW offshore wind project in Australia, called Southern Winds and located off the coasts of South Australia and Victoria.

The bottom-fixed wind project will be located 10-30 kilometres (6.2-18.6 miles) off the shore, within the Portland West Offshore Wind Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) announced by the Victorian government, the companies said.

This is Energy Estate and BlueFloat Energy’s latest project in Australia’s nascent offshore wind sector, bringing their pipeline to more than 5 GW. At the end of 2021, the companies said they would partner in the development of 4.3 GW of offshore wind projects in Aussie waters, with plans to further expand the rollout in 2022. They are now continuing to advance the development of more sites in Australia and New Zealand.

According to the developers, the benefits of the Southern Winds site include strong wind resources, a skilled local workforce, access to a deep-water port and the potential to complement existing and proposed onshore wind farms, among others.

“Australia’s change in Government in May this year has shifted the narrative on climate change and the role of renewables in decarbonising the country's economy,” Nick Sankey, country manager for BlueFloat Energy, said and expressed excitement about the role of offshore wind.

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