Huge $10 billion Wind Farm Planned for off Australia’s East Coast has been Scrapped
By ASHLEY NICKEL
– A wind farm was proposed off Newcastle
– A Norwegian company pulled support
– Australian company is too small to pursue alone
Plans for a $10 billion wind farm off Australia’s east coast have been scrapped after a global energy giant withdrew its support.
Norwegian electricity company Equinor last week announced it would no longer work with Australian partner Oceanex to build the Novocastrian Offshore Wind Farm off Newcastle and Port Stephens, on the NSW Central Coast.
The Albanese government in February offered the companies a feasibility licence, which granted them the ability to conduct thorough investigations, such as environmental surveys.
However, Equinor announced it would not accept the licence and would withdraw its support for the project.
The Novocastrian Offshore Wind Farm was set to generate 2,000 megawatts of electricity within a 500 sq km area, located 20km off the coastline.
Energy Minister Chris Bowen told ABC Radio Newcastle Equinor had similarly withdrawn from other renewable projects around the globe and Oceanex was too small to pursue the project on its own.
‘They need a partner, and frankly an international partner,’ he said.
Oceanex expressed its disappointment in Equinor’s decision, while a joint statement from the companies cited global issues.
Novocastrian Offshore Wind Farm was to be built off Newcastle and Port Stephens (highlighted area above) and generate 2,000 megawatts of electricity
Norwegian company Equinor withdrew its support for the wind farm last week and its Australia partner, Oceanex, is too small to pursue the project alone
Where the wind farm was set to be located
‘We will continue to work with all to investigate how we can make offshore wind in the Hunter progress and create huge jobs and investment for the region,’ the statement read.
‘While we are not progressing with this feasibility licence, we believe Australia continues to have a significant role to play in the global energy transition.’
Bowen claimed the government was keen to keep pursuing renewable energy projects and would release new information regarding research licences in declared offshore zones.
‘It’s a licence to do more research, pilot projects, offshore wind and other renewables in the zone,’ Bowen said.
Meanwhile, several community members have celebrated the decision.
Port Stephens Offshore Game Fishing Club president Troy Radford explained the wind farm could have affected tourism, whale migration, and the local fishing industry.
‘The impact to recreational game fishing would be devastating, the area he chose is a marlin hotspot in Australia,’ he said.
‘All the whales that migrate up and down the coast and the effects of that to tourism would be devastating.’
