Offshore Wind Farm One Step Closer

 BY PETER HYSLOP

The Federal Government says securing a feasibility licence for a company to develop a windfarm off the Hunter's coast is a major step forward.

It's been awarded to company Novocastrian Wind, a partnership between Equinor and Oceanex Energy.

It comes despite community opposition to the project which would generate 2 gigawatts of renewable energy and sit about 20 kilometres off the Newcastle Coast. Some locals say the project could harm marine life.

Federal Newcastle MP Sharon Claydon says the project would create hundreds of jobs.

"This is an important next step in Australia's offshore wind industry and it's happening right here in Newcastle," she said.

"And a new offshore wind industry in Newcastle means new jobs in local manufacturing, in construction, maritime, transport and the logistics industries, as well as growing our vocational education and training pathways at TAFE and the University," she said.

Licence Area. Credit: Sharon Claydon MP

Offshore wind potential welcomed by Hunter's peak business body

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The Hunter's peak business body is welcoming the Federal Government's hopes to develop an offshore wind farm on the region's coast.

The Federal Energy Minister declared the ocean off Newcastle one of six potential offshore wind zones, to fill the gap in the energy and support the push for a 43 percent emissions reduction by 2030.

Business Hunter CEO Bob Hawes says it's great news for the region, and will gives developers certainty to invest the region.

"We are aware of a range of strong and serious proponent interest in offshore wind projects off the Hunters coast and this was re-affirmed in the expression of interest process for the Renewable Energy Zone in the Hunter run recently by the NSW Government," he said.

"The Hunter is ideally placed to have offshore wind farms, with onshore transmission infrastructure largely in place and potential offtakes required to support the ventures also identified that would support an offshore wind farm and more broadly a national renewable energy industry."

"Having local large users of energy in proximity will not only give confidence to project proponents but also the users of the energy as they would face a bleak future if we don’t commission renewable energy projects that have a capacity to generate reliable and affordable power at scale."