Bluefloat checks pulse on community support for 1.7GW offshore wind plans

BlueFloat Energy is calling for community feedback on its plans for the Eastern Rise offshore wind farm, as it prepares to seek environmental approvals for the project proposed for waters in the Hunter zone off the New South Wales coast.

The Eastern Rise project, currently in the pre-feasibility stage, proposes to install 1.7GW of floating turbines off the Hunter-Port Stephens coast, between Newcastle and Nelson Bay – likely within Australia’s second declared offshore wind zone, which is yet to be finalised by the federal government.

Bluefloat Energy said on Tuesday it is in the process of making three environmental referrals to the federal government for Eastern Rise: one for the main project, one for initial marine investigations and one for geotechnical and geophysical investigations.

The Spain-based company is inviting community feedback on the proposals via drop-in sessions to be held on Wednesday and Thursday this week across the region.

BlueFloat says the drop-in sessions will provide an opportunity for locals to meet with the Eastern Rise project team, learn more about the plans and gain better understanding of the processes an offshore wind project needs to go through from a regulatory perspective.

“With applications for licenses expected to be open in mid 2023, BlueFloat Energy has emphasised that engagement is crucial with the community, to co-exist with other industries like tourism, fishing and resources,” the company said in a statement.

BlueFloat Energy’s country manager for Australia, Nick Sankey, says the community engagement sessions are just the start of the company’s community consultation, and its plans to create “lasting benefits” for the Hunter and Port Stephens region.

“The offshore wind industry will provide clean energy, as well as jobs in construction, operation and maintenance,” Sankey says.

“We expect there to be massive benefit for the region and we are keen to deliver this benefit in a way that ensures that other industries and community members are not negatively affected, underlining the value of these sessions.”

So far, there has been no shortage of interest in Australia’s second official offshore wind development zone, with the federal government’s initial proposal on the size and placement of the zone attracting just shy of 2,000 submissions.

The Albanese government in February opened consultation on the establishment of an offshore wind zone in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of the NSW Hunter Region, a national manufacturing powerhouse that is also home to Australia’s largest smelter, Tomago Aluminium.

As RenewEconomy reported last week, a total of 1,916 submissions were counted by the close of consultation, 93.6% of which had come from individuals, not organisations.

The areas with the most submissions were 38.3% were from Central Coast, with 17.6% from Lake Macquarie and 15.5% from Newcastle. A majority 75.9% of submissions were public, with 48.4% also anonymous.

So far, there are a number of offshore wind energy projects proposed for off the coast of New South Wales, with just a few of them in the Hunter zone.

These include a 2GW project being developed by OceanEx and Equinor, the Energy Estate 1.65GW Hunter Coast Offshore Wind Project, and the biggest floating wind project proposed for Australian waters yet, now owned by French nuclear giant EDF.

The consultation sessions for BlueFloat’s Eastern Rise project will be held on Wednesday May 10 and Thursday May 11 in-person in Salamander Bay, Nelson Bay, Charlestown and Newcastle. An online session will be held on Monday May 15.

Registrations via this link.

See RenewEconomy’s Offshore Wind Farm Map of Australia