Australia provisionally approves Spinifex offshore wind project in Victoria
Australian Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, has granted provisional approval for a feasibility licence for the 1.2 GW Spinifex offshore wind project, located in the Southern Ocean near Victoria’s coast. The project, led by Alinta Energy and Parkwind (a subsidiary of JERA Nex), has now entered the next phase of the feasibility licensing process.
This phase will include extensive consultations with stakeholders, including First Nations groups, and comprehensive environmental studies to evaluate the project’s viability. The feasibility licence is a crucial step towards powering southwest Victoria with reliable renewable energy and creating hundreds of skilled jobs in the region.
Bowen emphasized the significance of offshore wind for regional Australia, highlighting its potential to deliver renewable power for homes and heavy industry while supporting local employment. The Spinifex project team will now focus on stakeholder engagement and environmental impact assessments to determine the project’s next steps.
Image Credit: Commonwealth of Australia.