The Hon Chris Bowen MP, Minister for Climate Change and Energy
The Hon Josh Wilson MP, Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy
The Albanese Labor Government is taking the next steps in establishing our offshore wind industry, with the offer of three preliminary feasibility licences in Western Australia's Bunbury Zone.
In the southern area of the zone, Westward Wind and Bunbury Offshore Wind South have resolved an overlap between their projects. They join a third project, also owned by Bunbury Offshore Wind Farm project, in the northern area of the zone that is currently in consultation for a preliminary feasibility license.
The three proposed offshore wind projects off the coast of Bunbury could generate a total of 2.5 GW, enough to power around 1.7 million homes in Western Australia.
Should these projects go ahead, they could employ over 1,500 workers during construction and another 600 ongoing jobs. These are well paid, high-value jobs - engineers, technicians, operators, riggers, divers, project managers and administrators. And they're jobs that will rely on the skilled workforce that's already in the region.
Traditional owners will now have time to consider the impacts of the Westward Wind and Bunbury Offshore Wind projects before they are offered a final feasibility licence.
Wind With Purpose are still responding to an initial decision not to grant them a licence for the Catalpa Offshore Wind Farm.
Australia's offshore wind industry is progressing, with feasibility licences granted for projects targeting a total of 24.21 GW of renewable energy and preliminary offers for another 5.4 GW.
The three west coast projects add to the 12 feasibility projects currently under development on the east coast, with more to come.
ATTRIBUTABLE TO MINISTER FOR CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENERGY CHRIS BOWEN:
"The Albanese Government is securing Australia's energy future with the offshore wind industry the former Coalition Government promised but failed to deliver - and Western Australia is key to our plans.
"In Bunbury, offshore wind has huge potential for jobs, new industry, and clean, reliable renewable energy in the regions which have powered Australia for generations.
"Western Australia needs some 50 GW of additional generation by 2042, and we're getting to work making sure that we deliver the new clean energy, and the good jobs, the West needs."
ATTRIBUTABLE TO ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENERGY, JOSH WILSON:
"The remarkable wind resources located offshore from Bunbury present a huge new opportunity for this traditional power generating region to continue its momentum as a clean energy powerhouse.
"The Albanese Government is committed to providing Western Australians with reliable, clean, and affordable energy to power homes and industry while creating thousands of highly skilled and well-paid jobs."
