RWE has been granted a feasibility license from the Australian government to develop the 2 GW Kent Offshore Wind Farm, located close to the Kent Group islands in the Bass Strait off the Gippsland coast in the state of Victoria.
This area is Australia’s first designated offshore wind zone.
The approval grants RWE a seven-year seabed right to develop the project. It also allows the company to apply for a commercial license to build and operate the wind farm for 40 years.
“Australia is a very attractive growth market for renewable energy,” says Sven Utermöhlen, CEO of RWE Offshore Wind.
“RWE has been active in the country for ten years and operates one of Australia’s largest solar farms. By 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. With the Kent project, we will work on developing one of the first offshore wind farms off the Australian coast. This is in line with our strategy to grow our renewables portfolio in Australia and the wider APAC region.”
RWE’s next steps for the project are to carry out design studies and to submit applications for planning permission.
