Plans for Australia’s First Offshore Wind Farm cleared a big hurdle when the Country’s Government granted an Exploration for the 2GW Star of the South Project.
The license allows the Project Development Team to carry out Technical and Environmental Studies in Federal Waters at the Proposed Project site off Gippsland in the State of Victoria.
Star of the South, which is backed by Global Offshore Wind Investor Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), wants to deploy Turbines 10-25km off the Coast in the Bass Strait, to meet Demand in Centers including Melbourne, Australia’s Second-Largest City.
The Star of the South Project is proposing the Construction of 250 Wind Turbines that could generate up to 20% of Victoria’s Electricity Needs and Feed the Power into the National Electricity Market via an Underground Cable to the Latrobe Valley.
The Proponents of the Project have said it could Create up to 12,000 Manufacturing and Construction Jobs while Providing Clean Power up to 1.2 Million Homes.
Star of the South CEO Andy Evans said: “While it’s still early days for the project, these crucial investigations will help us move forward and understand how we might progress and offshore wind project in Australia.”
The Granting of the license took longer than expected, prompting Anger among some Renewable Energy Advocates.
The Maritime Union of Australia in February Claimed the Delay was a result of “ideological hatred” of Renewables in the Country’s Coalition Government.
The Approval of the Exploration License by Energy Minister Angus Taylor follows Months of Pressure by the Union, Community Groups, and Environmentalists who were concerned that it had been Delayed by Government Inaction and Ideological Opposition to Action on Climate Change.
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