EDF Renewables Australia, as part of a strategic partnership with Newcastle Offshore Wind Energy (NOWE), is developing an offshore, floating wind farm in Commonwealth waters off the coast of Newcastle.
Well situated near the Port of Newcastle and transmission networks, the NOW project is proposed for the area in the Pacific Ocean off the Hunter declared under the Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Act by the Commonwealth Government.
The project will contribute to the electricity grid supply as local coal-fired power stations retire, promoting clean energy and a sustainable future for the region.
EDF Renewables is currently operating six offshore wind farms globally, with four additional projects under construction including a floating wind turbine project. The local team that originally conceived the project is continuing to work on the project with EDF Renewables as a collaborative partner.
The Project combines the international expertise of EDF Renewables in the floating offshore wind sector, with the local team's many years of technical assessment, and active engagement with stakeholders in the area and the wider Newcastle community.
Supporting the Hunter-Central Coast Region
Proposed for the Hunter Declared Area, the project will play a pivotal role in the region's transition to a cleaner energy future. Specifically, it is expected to:
Help the region continue as one of the largest producers of power in NSW;
Contribute to the transformation of the NSW electricity system into one that is cheap, clean and reliable;
Create clean energy jobs for the region’s exceptionally strong and highly skilled workforce, as well as for the future generation; and
Help underpin the development of NSW and Australia’s supply chain to support the offshore wind industry.
Planning and Environment Assessment Process
The project is subject to comprehensive assessment, a process that includes extensive stakeholder engagement, and approval at both the NSW and Commonwealth government levels.
The licencing, assessment and environmental approval process includes:
Application for a feasibility licence under the Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Act 2021 (OEI Act). This will allow us to conduct exploratory and scoping work in a specified licence area.
Submission of a management plan for assessment and approval
Application for a commercial licence, and transmission and infrastructure licence under the OEI Act (based on successful completion of feasibility)
Assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act)
Assessment under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act)
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