RES, Origin offshore wind project wins feasibility licence in Gippsland zone

A seventh offshore wind project has been awarded a feasibility licence in Victoria’s Gippsland development zone, with RES announcing on Wednesday that its joint venture with Origin Energy has been given the nod by the federal government.

The Origin x RES Navigator North project was one of six projects that were recommended for a feasibility licence by the federal energy minister in May, subject to further consultation with Traditional Owners.

The up to 1.5GW Navigator North now appears to have ticked off that requirement, allowing it to move ahead with detailed environmental assessments, geotechnical surveys, obtaining approvals and undertaking further consultation on the proposed project.

According to RES, the proposed Navigator North project has been awarded feasibility for an area of 700 km2, roughly 34 km off the Southern Australian coast, within the federal government declared Gippsland offshore wind zone. (See map below. Click to enlarge.)

It joins the six projects that were granted feasibility licences in May, including the 2.2GW Star of the South being developed by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Cbus and its original Australian co-founders Andy Evans, Terry Kallis and Peter Sgardelis.

Another five still awaiting final word include Ørsted 2, Iberdrola’s Aurora Green, the Great Eastern Offshore Wind Farm Project owned by Macquarie’s Corio, Bluefloat’s Gippsland Dawn and RWE’s Kent Offshore Wind.

“There is so much potential to develop an environmentally sensitive offshore wind industry in Australia that plays a meaningful role in addressing the climate crisis, complimenting the already established and successful onshore wind industry,” said RES Australia CEO Matt Rebbeck on Wednesday.

“The Origin x RES joint venture (JV) brings unrivalled expertise and capability to the Australian market at a time when the country is looking to accelerate development of renewable energy to meet its decarbonisation goals, starting with the highly prospective Gippsland offshore wind area,” a joint statement adds.

RES has had a hand in development of more than 2.2GW of global offshore wind energy, including “pioneering” projects like East Anglia One in the UK. The company also has more than 5GW of onshore renewables projects in Australia.

In a statement in May, federal energy minister Chris Bowen said he had awarded feasibility licences to projects that would “bring the most rewards for Gippsland, its workforce and for our energy security.”

Origin Energy’s head of energy supply and operations, Greg Jarvis, says the awarding of a feasibility licence for Navigator North is testimony to the “strengths and capabilities” of the joint venture, and “the commitments expressed in our application.”

“Origin is the nation’s largest energy retailer with 4.7 million customer accounts, owns a suite of generation assets across Australia’s East Coast, and has deep expertise right across the Australian energy and policy landscape,” Jarvis said on Wednesday.

“RES brings extensive global experience across the full lifecycle of offshore and onshore wind farms and other renewable energy technologies.

“Together, we will look to develop a competitive wind project that we believe could provide material renewable supply to the energy market. We will place local communities and workforces at the heart of any potential Navigator North development and future operations.”

Origin says that if the project progresses to construction and operation, the JV plans to invest into community engagement activities, including a neighbourhood benefits sharing scheme and a local energy discount scheme.

The Navigator North project has the potential to deliver power nearly 1 million homes and is expected to create an estimated 1,400 new jobs during the design and construction phase and a further 60 jobs over the project’s 30-year operational life.