Norway oil giant backs gigawatt-scale offshore wind farm and green hydrogen in Tasmania

Norwegian oil giant Equinor has thrown its weight behind the offshore wind plans of Australian renewables company Nexsphere to build a 1GW project off the coast of north-east Tasmania.

Nexsphere said on Thursday the two companies were working up a deal, expected to be completed in the first part of 2023, to collaborate on the proposed Bass Offshore Wind Energy project (BOWE).

The project was first proposed roughly a year ago by Nexsphere, formerly Brookvale Energy, for up to 70 wind turbines off the coast of Tasmania, with a link to connect at George Town, close to the proposed Marinus Link undersea cable to the mainland.

The project also has its eyes on the big green hydrogen and green ammonia facilities planned by the likes of Fortescue, Woodside, and Origin for Bell Bay, as well as the potential to export electricity through the Marinus Link to Victoria in the future.

Nexsphere says Equinor will bring to the project its experience and expertise in the development and construction of offshore wind farms – starting with preparatory activities, already underway – while Nexsphere will focus on progressing the project.

Nexsphere CEO Glen Kierse says the potential for offshore wind in Tasmania is “extraordinary,” and the company sees BOWE as one of a series of projects to kickstart the island state’s emerging green hydrogen sector, while also helping to power the mainland.

“The BOWE project is uniquely positioned to support many of the Tasmanian government’s recent announcements including Marinus Link, Battery of the Nation and the Bell Bay Hydrogen Hub,” Kierse said.

For Equinor, the project gives the global giant more of a foot in the door on Australia’s nascent offshore experience to develop offshore wind market, which is rapidly developing a long list of project proposals backed by enthusiastic state and federal governments.

See RenewEconomy’s Offshore Wind Farm Map of Australia

Already, Equinor has bought into three proposed offshore wind farms in New South Wales – each of up to 2GW off the coast of Newcastle, the Illawarra and Eden – in a deal struck with Australian developer OceanEx in August.

“As we continue to see momentum grow for the offshore wind industry in Australia, we’re excited to join Nexsphere and further progress the Bass Offshore Wind Energy project,” said Equinor’s senior director for offshore wind in Australia, Thomas Hansen.

“The Bass Strait is a world class offshore wind resource, and this project is well placed to support Australia’s energy transition and Tasmania’s goal to double the production of green electricity by 2040.”