BlueFloat tie-up unveils initial project in 5-GW New Zealand offshore wind roll-out

Spain’s BlueFloat Energy LLC, Aussie partner Energy Estate Pty Ltd and New Zealand-based consultancy Elemental Group on Tuesday laid out plans for the construction of a roughly 900-MW wind farm off the coast of New Zealand’s North Island.

The scheme will be executed through the partners’ joint venture that was formed last year to develop four offshore wind projects in New Zealand with a potential capacity of up to 5 GW. South Taranaki will be the first of the proposed projects.

To be located 22 kilometres (13.7 miles) off the coast of South Taranaki, to the west of Beach Energy’s Kupe oil and gas platform, the future wind park will use fixed-bottom technology. The sea floor at the selected site is “relatively flat,” with a water depth of less than 50 metres. Significant offshore infrastructure is available nearby, the developers said.

The project is currently in the feasibility stage. The partners expect they could be able to launch building activities before 2030. During the construction phase, the project is planned to open at least 600 jobs.

Once up and running, South Taranaki will be capable of producing electricity to supply around 440,000 homes.

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!