BlueFloat adds fourth offshore wind project to growing Australian portfolio

UK-based BlueFloat Energy and its Australian partner Energy Estate have announced a new 1.155GW offshore wind project off Australia’s southern coast as they hailed a “shift in narrative” following the recent election of a Labor government.

The new project, called Southern Winds, is located around 10-30kms off the coast straddling the border of Victoria and South Australia and will fall within the proposed Portland West Offshore Wind Renewable Energy Zone.

It is the fourth project in Australia to be announced by BlueFloat Energy and Energy Estate, with the portfolio growing to 5GW. It follows the recent unveiling of a 9GW portfolio of floating offshore wind by Direct Infrastructure, and a new 2.5GW project unveiled by Macquarie Group’s Corio.

The first offshore wind projects are expected to be delivering power to the grid around 2028, all going well, and Victoria has a target of 9GW of offshore wind capacity by 2040. It is the centre of most activity in the country.

The two companies say they are looking at further project sites in Australia and New Zealand, as well as looking at local manufacturing and supply chains.

“Australia’s change in government in May this year has shifted the narrative on climate change and the role of renewables in decarbonising the country’s economy,” said Nick Sankey, the Australian country manager for BlueFloat Energy.

“The new prime minister has promised to turn Australia into a renewable energy superpower and is viewed as being outward- looking and ambitious about Australia’s net zero emissions target.”

Southern Winds will use bottom-fixed rather than floating technology, and the location has been chosen for its strong wind conditions, access to a deep water port and transmission lines, and strong local demand (the Portland smelter and other industrial loads are nearby).

Simon Currie, the co-founder and chief projects officer at Energy Estate says the region has a history of successful industrial and renewable energy developments.

“Our vision includes enabling globally competitive clean forest products and a sustainable fuels hub which stretches from Mt Gambier to Portland.”

BlueFloat energy has recently unveiled a 5GW portfolio of offshore wind projects in Columbia, 1GW in Taiwan and a 50MW project in the Port of Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands, and has grown its global portfolio to 20GW.

The two companies’ other Australian projects include the 1.3GW Gippsland project, the 1.4GW Hunter project and the 1.6GW Wollongong project.

See RenewEconomy’s Offshore Wind Farm Map of Australia