wpd, Australis Energy plan three offshore wind projects in Australia

The projects, located in the coastal waters of the states of Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia, will have a combined capacity of 1.4 GW.

Australis has been pursuing early stage development of the projects and with the joint venture agreed, they will now be taken through to the next phase of planning. wpd has established a subsidiary, wpd offshore Australia Pty Ltd, and is expanding its local development team.

Phases 1 and 2 of the three projects have already been completed. With its entry into the joint venture, wpd will assist with Phase 3, completing environmental studies and environmental impact assessments, further data collection, landowner agreements, grid access agreements and planning, permitting and licensing for the projects.

wpd Australia project development director Mirjam Tome said, “wpd brings expertise and many years of experience in the development, implementation and operation of offshore projects to the emerging Australian market.

“With Australis Energy, we have the chance to work with one of the first project developers to start systematically developing offshore wind projects in Australia.”

Australis Energy has experience planning and implementing projects in the UK and recently established itself in Australia.