Australia has important offshore windfarm opportunities which, once captured, will greatly increase sustainability within the country’s infrastructure.

Arup worked with Australis Energy Ltd, a London-based, experienced offshore windfarm developer that was pursuing three offshore wind projects in Australia with a combined installed capacity of 1.4GW. Arup was appointed Principal Consultant to undertake early feasibility studies and develop a statutory approvals strategy to progress the proposed offshore windfarms in Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria.  
 
Arup is helping to shape offshore wind developments around the world – from the east coast of the US to Southeast Asia. This global experience is helping to develop the wind market in Australia. 

The approvals strategy we developed for Australis identified Federal and State legislative requirements, the level of compliance required, and, through initial consultation with agencies, confirmation of the statutory approvals pathway. We also determined the most efficient approach for achieving the required statutory approvals, enabling the projects to progress with certainty whilst identifying and managing the associated risks. 

The three locations examined are in South Australia, 230 km south of Adelaide; Western Australia, 20km north of Bunbury; and Victoria, 25km west of Portland. We determined that these sites could power more than 900,000 homes when developed in these sites, each close to existing infrastructure to enable effective connection to the regional electricity grid. 

 

We look forward to working with Commonwealth and State Governments as we progress the projects through the approvals process. Subject to planning and environmental clearance, construction could begin as early as 2025, with commissioning in 2027. 

Mark Petterson

Chairman, Australis