Company plans to build offshore wind farm off Tasmania’s North-East tip
With communities objecting to wind farms sited near their towns, one company is working on plans for turbines that will be out of sight “over the horizon” in Bass Strait. DETAILS >>
Tasmania
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TASMANIA’S wind energy focus has moved from the land to the sea with a company revealing plans to develop an offshore project in Bass Strait.
Nexsphere – previously known as Brookvale Energy – wants to develop is Bass Offshore Wind Energy project off Tasmania’s North-East tip.
The proposed wind farm would generate between 500 and 1000 megawatts of renewable energy, enough to power over 325,000 homes.
Stage one would comprise about 35 turbines “over the horizon” in Bass Strait and not visible from land.
“It will provide enormous long-term employment and investment opportunities and deliver significant growth for the state,” Nexsphere CEO Glen Kierse said.
“BOWE will provide a major economic boost to northern Tasmania that includes ongoing construction and operations jobs, a corporate headquarters, research opportunities and marine engineering roles.
“The strength of offshore wind in Bass Strait is well known. With BOWE, Tasmania can deliver major green energy solutions to its people and businesses – including hydrogen generation – as well as position itself to export green energy to the mainland.”
Charles Wooley: Wind farm at Stanley is simply nuts
Further announcements regarding timelines and development, including strategic and capital
partners, will be made soon.
Energy Minister Guy Barnett said Bass Strait had been named as one of the top options for offshore wind energy generation in the country by the national Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre.
“These projects also complement Project Marinus, Battery of the Nation and our plans to supply renewable energy for an emerging green hydrogen industry to be based out of the Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone,” Mr Barnett said.
“Offshore wind as a renewable energy source is booming globally and the International Energy Agency views offshore wind as one of the big three sources of clean energy alongside solar and onshore wind.”
Bass Strait was found to have consistently higher and stronger winds at points 50km and 100km offshore than other locations and was second only to Portland in Victoria for a 25km offshore-based location.
The Blue Economy CRC Offshore Wind Energy in Australia report is available at blueeconomycrc.com.au
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