Sydney-based Nexsphere plans offshore wind project in Bass Strait

The electricity produced by the windfarm would be used by Tasmanian businesses and industrial customers supplied through Nexsphere’s connection to the TasNetworks electricity grid. Industrial hydrogen customers and users based at the Bell Bay Hydrogen Hub could use the electricity to manufacture green hydrogen and ammonia for export to Asia. Industrial and corporate customers in mainland Australia who are seeking to transition from coal-generated electricity are other potential users.

Nexsphere plans to develop an offshore windfarm that would generate 500-1,000 MW. Subject to state and federal government approval, the BOWE project will have the capacity to expand to meet increased customer demand for green energy.

Tasmania Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Guy Barnett said, “As part of the Tasmanian Renewable Energy Action Plan we have identified Tasmania’s ocean, tidal, and offshore energy resources as a key direction towards delivering a fully self-sufficient, green energy supply that can feed into the broader national energy network to generate significant economic returns for our state.”

The Minister said, “Tasmania’s world class offshore wind resource can play a key role providing the nation with the clean energy it needs as well as developing a new offshore industry with the potential to create hundreds of jobs.”

Tasmania already generates much of its electricity from renewables and legislation has been proposed that would enable the state to produce far more power than it needs, power that could be exported to the mainland.

The BOWE project also complements Project Marinus, a proposed 1.5-GW capacity undersea and underground electricity connection between Tasmania and Victoria, and ‘Battery of the Nation,’ a proposed hydropower project.