Copenhagen Energy, an aspiring Danish renewable energy developer, has unveiled a second massive 3GW offshore wind project off the coast of Western Australia, this time off the coast of Kalbarri, some 500kms north of Perth.
The unveiling of the Midwest Offshore Wind Project follows that of the Leeuwin offshore wind project to the south of Perth near Bunbury, and appears to be a carbon copy in terms of number of turbines, capacity proposed, and the size of the turbines.
Copenhagen Energy – which describes itself as an energy trader and development entrepreneur – proposes to begin both projects to construction by 2028, which appears to be a highly ambitious timeline given the early stage of the projects and the fact that the Midwest proposal does not yet have environmental approvals.
It is also suggesting that it will use turbines between 15MW and 25MW – which don’t actually exist yet – but which would be taller than most skyscrapers with a height of 385 metres.
“The definitive number, final location/layout and ultimate turbine and platform specifications will be determined as the project progresses,” it says on its newly published project page.
It says the development envelope will cover an area 10km to 70km from the coast, running from 31km north of Kalbarri to 52km south of Kalbarri. It says it has been designed to avoid the boundary of the Abrolhos Islands and the Midwest trawl fishery.
The proposal from Copenhagen Energy underlines the huge global and local interest in the potential of offshore wind in Australia, which has recently announced its intention to declare its first offshore wind zone – in Gippsland in Victoria – and has identified another five areas to follow.
What appears to be happening is that companies are entering the market to stake out their preferred “acreage” in an attempt to gain exclusive rights to conduct feasibility studies in their chosen area. These studies are likely to cost up to $200 million or more for projects of this size.
Copenhagen Energy’s web site indicates another two offshore wind project proposals in Western Australia – Samphire and Velella – although it has yet to detail the locations of these projects.
That would take the company’s total development portfolio in Western Australia to 12GW, which would be more than the state’s grid could accommodate unless it was heavily invested in green hydrogen.
Copenhagen Energy has a portfolio of project proposals totalling another 15GW of offshore wind projects in Ireland, Italy and The Phillipines. However, it has yet to build any, although its team lays claim to having developed up to1GW of projects in other roles.
