German energy company RWE has obtained a permit for a large wind turbine project off the coast of Australia.
The company says it has been granted a seven-year right to develop a facility off the southeastern state of Victoria, 67 kilometres offshore with an average water depth of 59 metres.
After the development of the project, which includes conducting geographical surveys, RWE would have to apply for a commercial permit to build and operate the wind farm. This permit would be valid for a maximum of 40 years.
RWE says the leased area has the potential for up to 2 gigawatts of electricity capacity, which could supply up to 1.6 million Australian homes with green electricity.
The project is still in its early stages, but construction could begin in the early 2030s.
RWE has been active in Australia for some time and is developing several onshore wind farm projects there. The energy company also operates a large solar park in Australia with a capacity of 249 megawatts. A battery storage facility is being built next to it.
“Australia is a very attractive growth market for renewables,” says RWE CEO Sven Utermöhlen. “We are developing one of the first offshore wind farms off the Australian coast, in line with our strategy to further expand our green portfolio in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.”
