The Australian Government has declared an area in the Pacific Ocean off the Illawarra, New South Wales (NSW) between Wombarra and Kiama where offshore renewable energy, such as offshore wind, can be developed.
About 90% of Australia’s aging coal-fired power stations will close by 2035. We need to keep the lights on in our homes, businesses, and communities. Offshore wind offers a large-scale, secure, reliable, and clean energy source for our electricity network.
The declared area has the potential to generate up to 2.9 gigawatts of renewable wind energy—enough to power 1.8 million homes.
The Australian Government read more than 14,200 submissions during the consultation period, and met with community members, First Nations people, government, and industry.
Consultation zone. (Image credit: Australian Government)
In response to feedback, the Minister for Climate Change and Energy has declared an area that:
- is smaller than originally proposed
- is 20 kilometers offshore to minimize visual impacts (10 kilometers further out than originally proposed)
- allows space for the safe management of shipping to and from Port Kembla
- avoids significant environmental areas, including:
- marine parks
- a Biologically Important Area for the Little Penguin
- Shelf Rocky Reef Key Ecological Feature
- Southern Right Whale migration and reproduction area.
- is large enough to support the development of offshore wind in the Illawarra.
Feasibility Licenses
Offshore wind projects can’t be built yet.
Interested companies will need to apply for a feasibility license between June 17 and August 15, 2024.
There will be more:
- investigations
- environmental assessments
- approvals
- consultation with the local community, government, industry, and First Nations people.
Companies are expected to maximize local content and demonstrate their contribution to local and Australian communities by using Australian goods and services.
