Offshore wind in Gippsland, Australia, is a step closer to becoming a reality, with the Commonwealth Government announcing the Bass Strait off Gippsland as the first area to be formally assessed under its new Offshore Electricity Infrastructure framework.
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water will now conduct a 60-day public consultation process, including with local communities and maritime users. Following consultation and a decision on the final areas suitable for development, offshore wind developers would have the opportunity to apply for a ‘feasibility licence’. Any project granted a licence would then need to undertake detailed technical and environmental studies to test project feasibility and obtain planning and environmental approvals. Following this, projects would also need to apply for a ‘commercial licence’ to install and operate infrastructure.