RWE secures feasibility license for offshore wind farm in Australia
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RWE announced that it has received a feasibility licence from the Australian Government to develop an offshore wind farm near the Kent Group Islands in the Bass Strait, off the Gippsland coast in Victoria.
The approval of the feasibility license grants the renewable energy company an “exclusive 7-year seabed right to develop the Kent Offshore Wind Farm project”.
The approval also enables the company to pursue a commercial licence to build and operate the wind farm for up to 40 years.
RWE has been granted a lease area with the potential to accommodate a wind farm capable of generating up to two gigawatts (GW) of power, sufficient to supply green electricity to as many as 1.6 million Australian households.
Located approximately 67 kilometres off the coast, the site features an average water depth of 59 meters.
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Depending on the timing of the planning and approvals process, secured offtake, and grid connection, the wind farm is anticipated to be operational in the first half of the 2030s.
Sven Utermöhlen, CEO of RWE Offshore Wind, said, “Australia is a very attractive growth market for renewable energy. RWE has been active in the country for 10 years and operates one of Australia’s largest solar farms. Securing exclusive seabed rights in the Bass Strait off Gippsland, we are now entering the Australian offshore wind market and will bring our more than 20 years of experience in this field.”
He added, “With the Kent project, we will work on developing one of the first offshore wind farms off the Australian coast. This aligns with our strategy to grow our renewables portfolio in Australia and the wider APAC region.”
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RWE’s next phase in advancing this project involves conducting studies to refine the project’s design and preparing applications for planning approvals.
RWE will also collaborate with essential stakeholders, including First Nations groups and local communities. Securing an agreement to sell its output will be a critical subsequent milestone in the project’s progression.
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