Posted on December 19, 2024
The government of Australia has declared a new offshore wind zone in the Bass Strait in northern Tasmania.
The zone, the country’s sixth, could support up to 20GW of reliable renewable energy – more than half of the current electricity demand across southeast Australia.
This could also contribute to the creation of up to 12,000 jobs in construction and a further 6,000 ongoing roles for engineers, electrical technicians, cable installers, boilermakers, crane operators, riggers, divers, seafarers, dockworkers, and administrators.
However, the declared Bass Strait zone is smaller than originally planned and further from shore. It now sits at least 30 km off Tasmania’s north coast and spans 7,100 sq km, reduced by about 30% of the original proposal. It also includes a carve-out for a shipping lane.
Offshore wind developers can apply for feasibility licences until March 12, 2025, which allows them to assess the feasibility of offshore wind projects in the declared zone.
“Tasmania is already an energy powerhouse – running on 100% renewables – but the power of offshore wind could see the state produce and export even more clean and reliable energy. The Bass Strait has truly world-class wind resources, with sustained wind speeds of more than 8 metres per second,” said Chris Bowen, Australia’s minister for climate change and energy.
