RWE has been granted exclusive seabed rights for a significant offshore wind project in the Bass Strait, near the Gippsland coast in Victoria.
The Australian Government has awarded RWE a feasibility licence for the Kent Offshore Wind Farm project, marking the company’s entry into Australia’s offshore wind market.
The seven-year exclusive seabed right allows RWE to develop a wind farm with a potential capacity of up to two gigawatts (GW).
This impressive output could provide green electricity to approximately 1.6 million Australian homes.
Located about 67 kilometres off the coast with average water depths of 59 meters, the project is situated in Australia’s first designated offshore wind zone.
RWE’s CEO of Offshore Wind, Sven Utermöhlen, highlighted Australia’s attractiveness as a growth market for renewable energy.
“By securing exclusive seabed rights in the Bass Strait off Gippsland, we are now entering the Australian offshore wind market and will bring our more than 20 years of experience in this field. With the Kent project, we will work on developing one of the first offshore wind farms off the Australian coast. This is in line with our strategy to grow our renewables portfolio in Australia and the wider APAC region,” Utermöhlen said.
The company, which has been active in Australia for a decade, plans to leverage its extensive experience in offshore wind development for this new venture.
The project timeline anticipates the wind farm becoming operational in the first half of the 2030s, subject to planning approvals, securing offtake agreements, and establishing grid connections.
RWE’s next steps include conducting studies to determine the project design and submitting applications for planning permission. The company has also committed to engaging with key stakeholders, including First Nations groups and local communities.
The company aims to grow its global offshore wind capacity from 3.3GW today to 10GW by 2030.
RWE’s involvement in Australia began in 2018 with the construction of the 249MW Limondale Solar Farm in New South Wales, one of the country’s largest. More recently, in 2023, RWE was awarded a contract to deliver and operate Australia’s first eight-hour battery adjacent to the Limondale facility.
The company has ambitious plans for further investment in Australia, with a commitment to invest around 6 billion by 2030. This investment aims to develop up to 3GW of onshore wind, solar, and battery projects across the country.
RWE currently has a Melbourne-based team of nearly 70 experienced employees.
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