Australia pushes offshore wind towards net zero emissions by 2050

"Opening the avenue" for renewable energy

The Australian Government is boosting renewable energy and reducing the impact of polluting energy sources to achieve its target of net zero emissions by 2050.

The Australian government has granted the first permits for six offshore wind projects off the south coast, an area with great potential to tap the strong and reliable wind energy from the Atlantic Ocean, Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen announced.

Australian Energy and Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo: Reuters)

In addition, the Australian Government also granted other licenses for six other offshore wind projects to begin the consultation process with Indigenous people.

Mr. Chris Bowen emphasized that the Australian Government decided to create a legal basis for these projects to continue the consultation process with stakeholders and conduct activities such as: environmental impact assessment such as the impact on flora and fauna, as well as the impact on the local community and ecosystem.

At the same time, investors undergo geotechnical surveys to assess the feasibility of building a wind farm in that area, including examining the soil, terrain, and other factors that may affect the project's implementation. These are important steps to ensure that renewable energy projects are implemented in a sustainable manner that benefits the environment and the community.

Develop many projects with large capacity

The Australian Government is implementing a strategy to transition to sustainable energy sources, reducing dependence on fossil fuels. Offshore wind power has great potential to provide clean and stable electricity, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, when projects come into operation, they will create new job opportunities in the renewable energy sector.

Australian Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen said the licensing of offshore wind projects is part of efforts to promote the development of renewable energy, ensuring energy reliability and security for Victoria.

Map of the offshore wind power sector in Victoria, Australia. (Photo: Office of the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen)

Victoria is seen as a potential destination for offshore wind projects thanks to its ideal weather conditions and vast open sea space. Twelve offshore wind projects backed by the Australian Government will create a large offshore wind zone in Victoria.

The proposed offshore wind projects by Orsted and Iberdrola in Victoria would have a combined generating capacity of 25 gigawatts (GW). This is 100 times the annual energy consumption of the Gipplands industry and more than Victoria generated last year. They would also create 15,000 jobs during construction and 7,500 long-term jobs.

Meanwhile, two feasibility permits granted to global fund manager Copenhagen Architects Partners are a major step forward in advancing the project, including the Star of the South project, which aims to build a large-scale offshore wind farm worth AU$9 billion (US$6 billion).

Wind farm projects such as Star of the South play a key role in increasing Australia’s wind energy contribution with a target of at least 2GW of wind power by 2032, 4GW by 2035 and 9GW by 2040.

The wind power generation target set out in the plan demonstrates Australia’s commitment to renewable energy development, stimulating innovation and investment in the sector. At the same time, it creates momentum to help Australia move closer to a clean, sustainable energy system that can meet its future renewable energy needs.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/australia-day-manh-dien-gio-ngoai-khoi-huong-toi-phat-thai-rong-bang-0-vao-nam-2050-317714.html