Navigating Australia’s offshore wind regulatory environment
Applying for a feasibility licence requires complex programme management aspects to be addressed. We collaborated with JERA Nex bp, drawing on our expertise and experience from other offshore wind projects, to ensure the application was thorough and credible.
We did this by navigating the regulatory environment and structuring the licence application following guidelines from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water (DCCEEW). Additionally, we outlined the workload and defined roles and responsibilities to set the application up for success, while securing parallel licences from the Victorian Government.
Integrating disciplines to design a cohesive offshore wind narrative
With a clear understanding of the skills required to develop the application, we assembled a team of approximately 40 people, combining local and overseas expertise, covering 15 disciplines, and briefed each member on the purpose of their role and their specific contributions to the application.
Our focus remained firmly on the unique needs of the site and project, and the technical information required to secure a licence. Together, we produced a comprehensive and cohesive submission, providing all the necessary details for the regulator to approve the application and support JERA Nex bp's future once the licence was granted.
Our team worked collaboratively, developing the technical information needed for the application and crafting an integrated technical narrative for JERA Nex bp’s offshore wind project.
Assessing the environment for consents and constraints
Through an environmental feasibility assessment, we identified the necessary consents and approvals required to proceed with the feasibility licence phase site assessment activities which are needed to reach the Final Investment Decision (FID). These approvals included energy, regulatory, Commonwealth and State, and health and safety clearances.
In parallel, we assessed the physical, ecological, and social conditions of the proposed licence area and its surrounding environment. Like a risk assessment, we established the environmental baseline and conducted an impact assessment for the project.
This process helped us understand the grid connection, technical challenges, gaps, and uncertainties. It also showed the project could coexist with First Nations culture on Country and Sea Country and other activities such as aircraft, biodiversity, fishing activities and heritage values, which could influence the project’s design, layout, and securing of the FID phase.
Soil composition shapes infrastructure and supply chain design
Geotechnical analysis plays a crucial role in the application process, helping to assess the site’s geotechnical conditions and define soil parameters that determine the offshore wind project foundation type and size.
The offshore ground conditions in Gippsland contain a high carbonate content, formed from sea organism fossils, which crush under loading. This significantly affects the design of foundations systems for the project. Our team has decades of local experience working with these soil conditions for offshore foundation designs in the Gippsland region, wider Australia and worldwide.
Once preferred foundation types and sizes were determined, we could identify appropriate ports and facilities for manufacturing, supplying, and transporting the project’s infrastructure. This also allowed us to evaluate the necessary materials, such as concrete, steel, and turbines, as well as the supporting supply chain. We also explored how the project could engage local suppliers, contributing to the local economy and community.
