THE CONVERSATION ON WIND POWER
WIND TURBINES OFF THE COAST COULD HELP AUSTRALIA BECOME AN ENERGY SUPERPOWER, RESEARCH FINDS “More than ten offshore wind farms are currently proposed for Australia. If built, their combined capacity would be greater than all coal-fired power plants in the nation.”
OFFSHORE WIND FARMS are an increasingly common sight overseas. But Australia has neglected the technology, despite the ample wind gusts buffeting much of our coastline. New research released in mid-2021 confirms Australia’s offshore wind resources offer vast potential both for electricity generation and new jobs. In fact, wind conditions off southern Australia rival those in the North Sea, between Britain and Europe, where the offshore wind industry is well established. More than ten offshore wind farms are currently proposed for Australia. If built, their combined capacity would be greater than all coalfired power plants in the nation. Offshore wind projects can provide a win-win-win for Australia: creating jobs for displaced fossil fuel workers, replacing energy supplies lost when coal plants close, and helping Australia become a renewable energy superpower.
The time is now
IMAGE BY ALEXANDER KUHN FROM PIXABAY
Globally, offshore wind is booming. The United Kingdom plans to quadruple offshore wind capacity to 40 gigawatts (GW) by 2030 – enough to power every home in the nation. Other jurisdictions also have ambitious 2030 offshore wind targets including the European Union (60GW), the United States (30GW), South Korea (12GW) and Japan (10GW). Australia’s coastal waters are relatively deep, which limits the scope to fix offshore wind turbines to the bottom of the ocean. This, combined with Australia’s ample onshore wind and solar energy resources, means offshore wind has been overlooked in Australia’s energy system planning. But recent changes are producing new opportunities for Australia. The development of larger turbines has created economies of scale which reduce technology costs. And floating turbine foundations, which can operate in very deep waters, open access to more windy offshore locations. More than ten offshore wind projects are proposed in Australia. Star of the South, to be built off Gippsland in Victoria, is the most advanced. Others include those off Western Australia, Tasmania and Victoria.
Our findings Our study sought to examine the potential of offshore wind energy for Australia. First, we examined locations considered feasible for offshore wind projects, namely those that were: • less than 100km from shore • within 100km of substations and transmission lines (excluding environmentally restricted areas) • in water depths less than 1,000 metres. Wind resources at those locations totalled 2,233GW of capacity and would generate far more than current and projected electricity demand across Australia. Second, we looked at so-called ‘capacity factor’ – the ratio between the energy an offshore wind turbine would generate with the winds available at a location, relative to the turbine’s potential maximum output.
18 AUTUMN 2022
