Controversial Illawarra offshore wind farm which would power 1.8m homes green lit by Federal Government   
The next step for a controversial Australian energy project which would power an estimated 1.8 million homes has been announced.


News.com.au
June 15, 2024

A 1022km stretch of the NSW coast has been cordoned off for an offshore wind farm – the fourth largest in the country – which will generate enough energy to power 1.8 million homes.   

The Federal Government revealed the final amended zone details for the Illawarra offshore wind farm in the Pacific Ocean on Saturday, after extensive discussions with local industry figures, community groups and First Nations people.

It is expected to encompass 1022km2 when fully constructed – reduced by a third from original proposed plans.

The project will have the potential to generate 2.9GW of electricity, enough to power 1.8 million homes across the state.

But the development of the plans follow ongoing outcry from the seaside community, some complaining that the turbines will impact the look of the coastline.

Others say it will damage the marine environment.

The final area for the Illawarra offshore wind farm zone is 1,022 km2 – reducing the zone by a third from the originally proposed zone. Picture: Supplied

The government’s renewed plans for the zone mean it will exclude significant environmental areas including the Biologically Important Area for the Little Penguin, the Shelf Rocky Reef Key Ecological Feature and the Southern Right Whale migration and reproduction area.

Wind turbines are now expected to be constructed 20km out from the Illawarra coast.

Assistant Treasurer and Whitlam MP Stephen Jones said the offshore project would play an important role in transforming Australia into a “global renewable energy superpower”.


The offshore wind farm will create an estimated 1740 new jobs during construction and 870 ongoing roles including engineers, technicians, operators, riggers, seafarers, dockworkers, project managers and administrators. 

“Declaring this offshore wind zone brings the Illawarra a step closer to becoming a major provider of the building blocks of the net zero transformation – green power, green hydrogen and green steel – along with thousands of new jobs,” Energy and Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen said on Saturday.   

Feasibility licence applications for offshore wind projects in the Illawarra zone open Monday and close on August 13.

The Federal Government estimates the project will produce enough energy to power 1.8m homes and support thousands of construction and ongoing jobs.

Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the project was a major provider of the building blocks of the net zero transformation

Construction can only begin after the feasibility stage is completed and developers have gained subsequent environmental and management plan approvals.

They will also need to demonstrate how projects will benefit Australian industry and jobs.

“Amending the zone so that it commences 20 kilometres from the coast and excluding significant environmental areas is a sensible compromise that reflects the majority of community opinion while helping to achieve our shared goals of more renewable energy, more jobs and fewer emissions,” Cunningham MP Alison Byrnes said.

“My expectation is that all proponents not only make sure that their projects meet the highest environmental standards but also incorporate local content.

“(This includes) the use of locally produced steel, and local workforce and develop a strong benefit sharing scheme so that our community meaningfully benefits from hosting an offshore wind farm should one be developed.”

lee wrote on Jun 16^th, 2024 at 5:43pm:


You should let your colleagues know at your next liberal party branch meeting

lee wrote on Jun 16^th, 2024 at 7:29pm:


Iron melts at around 1500c, CO2 breaks down to CO and O at around 700c, neither CO or O are greenhouse gasses. The carbon in steel is not bound to oxygen so is not CO2. Saying Carbon makes CO2 is about informative as saying Oxygen makes CO2.

John Smith wrote on Jun 16^th, 2024 at 8:33pm:



No deflection. If you had a source for carbon free steel you would have used it.

lee wrote on Jun 16^th, 2024 at 8:35pm:


Can you specify the oxygen content of any steel?

https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/General_Chemistry/Map%3A_General_Chemist...

Anyway, green steel is about the fuel used to create it.

lee wrote on Jun 16^th, 2024 at 9:45pm:


I don't understand your fixation on the small fraction of carbon in iron to make it steel. an alloy. It's about the production of CO2 in the smelting process, not the small amount of carbon in the iron to make it steel.

John Smith wrote on Jun 16^th, 2024 at 10:02pm:


And that's your problem. You only rely on your opinion.

Poor Guido. So lost.