Offshore Wind Farm Zone in Bass Strait Shrinks by 30%—What’s Behind the Change?
The Bass Strait wind farm zone has been reduced by 30% to address community concerns, while still promising significant job creation and renewable energy potential.
Bass Strait, Tasmania, Australia, Wind Farm, Renewable Energy, Chris Bowen
Tasmania: A new wind farm zone in Bass Strait is making waves, but not in the way you might think. The federal government has decided to scale it back by 30%. This change comes after hearing from local communities and various groups.
The revised zone now covers about 7,100 square kilometers and is located 30 kilometers offshore, which is 10 kilometers further from the coast than before. This adjustment aims to ease concerns about how the wind farms might look from land.
Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen mentioned that this project could create around 12,000 construction jobs and 6,000 ongoing positions. He believes they’ve found a good balance, even though some folks think it should be bigger or smaller.
Interestingly, Australia hasn’t had offshore wind farms yet, while Europe has been using them since the early ’90s. Bowen is optimistic that these turbines, which could be over 200 meters tall, will hardly be visible from the shore.
He also pointed out that the zone could generate up to 20 gigawatts of renewable energy, which is more than half of what southeast Australia currently needs. Developers have until March 12 to apply for feasibility licenses, and they need to show they’re committed to local suppliers.
The Tasmanian government is on board with this initiative, highlighting that the state has some of the best wind resources globally. Bass Strait is one of six priority areas for offshore wind in Australia, alongside places like Gippsland and the Southern Ocean.