Victoria, Australia-based Offshore Energy has proposed what would be Australia’s first offshore wind farm, according to the Andrews Labor Government.
The proposal includes up to 250 wind turbines within a 574-square-kilometer area located 10-25 kilometers off the Gippsland coastline. The wind farm would deliver around 8,000 GWh of electricity per year – equaling approximately 18% of Victoria’s power usage (or enough to power 1.2 million homes).
The company has been working with the Victorian and Commonwealth governments to progress the proposal to a formal feasibility assessment of the project, called “Star of the South.”
If successful, the project would generate an investment of around AUD $8 billion, as well as create 12,000 jobs during the construction phase and 300 ongoing operations and maintenance jobs, a release from the government says.
The project is expected to have a feasibility phase of at least three years. If it progresses, the wind farm would connect to existing infrastructure in the Latrobe Valley via undersea and underground transmission cables.
“A new renewable power generator of this size would drive down electricity prices, and we’ll support Offshore Energy wherever we can to progress this study,” says Lily D’Ambrosio, minister for energy, environment and climate change. “Offshore wind would add to Victoria’s system capacity and security as Australia transitions to a more diverse energy mix.”
