RWE, a leading global player in renewable energy, has obtained a feasibility licence from the Australian Government to develop an offshore wind farm in the Bass Strait, off the Gippsland coast in Victoria. This site, located near the Kent Group islands, represents Australia’s first designated offshore wind zone.
The licence grants RWE exclusive rights to the seabed for seven years, during which it can develop the Kent Offshore Wind Farm project. The project could generate up to two gigawatts (GW) of capacity, sufficient to power approximately 1.6 million Australian homes with green electricity. The site is 67 kilometers off the coast, with average water depths of 59 meters, and is expected to become operational in the first half of the 2030s, pending planning and approval processes, grid connection, and offtake agreements.
Sven Utermöhlen, CEO of RWE Offshore Wind, stated, "Australia is a very attractive growth market for renewable energy. RWE has been active in the country for 10 years and operates one of Australia’s largest solar farms. By securing exclusive seabed rights in the Bass Strait, we are now entering the Australian offshore wind market and will bring our more than 20 years of experience in this field."
RWE currently operates 19 offshore wind farms worldwide and plans to increase its global offshore wind capacity from 3.3 GW to 10 GW by 2030. The company has been involved in Australia since 2018, starting with the construction of the 249 MW Limondale Solar Farm in New South Wales, and recently secured a Long-Term Energy Service Agreement for an eight-hour battery project.
The next steps for RWE include conducting studies, engaging with stakeholders and communities, and securing an offtake agreement.
Source: rwe.com