The federal government is planning to create a national network of zones where offshore wind power generation is allowed. | katinacurtis
Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen has outlined the next phase of the federal government’s plan to shift the nation substantially onto renewable energy, a day after the lower house passed historic legislation locking in at least a 43 per cent cut to emissions by 2030.
He formally launched a 60-day consultation on Friday to declare the coast off Victoria’s Gippsland region a suitable location for offshore energy projects – a legal step required before any projects can be approved. “There’ll be questions, there’ll be valid concerns, there’ll be issues that need to be worked through with communities, whether they be recreational fishers, commercial fishers, environmental issues that need to be factored in. This is exactly what will be happening over the next 60 days in Gippsland and it’s what we’ll be doing across these zones over the next 18 months.”
Experts say offshore wind power has the potential to contribute significantly to that goal and the announcement of the designated zones will create certainty for investors and lead to more projects being advanced. There are currently 19 offshore wind projects proposed for development from regional industry hubs in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley, Port Kembla and Newcastle in NSW and Gladstone in Queensland, with a combined generation capacity of 28 gigawatts, which is roughly half that of the eastern seaboard’s electricity market., is based in the Gippsland region. The 2.2-gigawatt wind farm aims to start generation in 2028.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
‘World-class energy potential’: Labor announces plans for six offshore windfarmsEnergy minister Chris Bowen laid out plans to harness ‘world-class offshore wind energy potential’
Read more »
Australia's first six offshore wind zones unveiledDomestic offshore wind zones have been given the green light after the federal Energy Minister announced the location of the first of six sites.
Read more »
'Way behind the game': Labor launches new energy proposalLabor is wasting no time following the passage of its Climate Change Bill through the lower house on Thursday, with Energy and Climate Minister Chris Bowen announcing the government is moving ahead with offshore wind generation.
Read more »
Labor to make first offshore wind declarationsLabor will announce the first Australian regions where offshore wind projects will be developed, firing the start gun for an expected wave of developments.
Read more »
Scientists reverse cell decay, revive tissue in pigs that had been dead for an hourThe new process could be a step towards improved organ donation — and also raises questions regarding how we think about death.
Read more »