Mainstream, Parkwind and other offshore wind developers hope to build projects off Gippsland, Victoria (pic credit: Amith Jayasuriya)
If the companies are successful in securing feasibility licences, they would be responsible for the engineering, procurement, construction, operations and maintenance of their project. They would still need to secure a commercial licence to proceed to construction.
Mainstream has teamed up with Reventus Power – the wind power investment arm of Canada Pension Plan Investment Board – Australian utility AGL and offshore wind developer Direct Infrastructure for its bid.
It plans to build 2.5GW of offshore wind capacity in the 15,000km2 zone, which is located off Gippsland in south-east Australia.
Meanwhile, Parkwind is working with local oil and gas group Beach Energy on its application, according to media reports.
Parkwind holds 75% of the bidding entity and Beach Energy – a newcomer to offshore wind – holds 25%.
The two groups will face competition, with BlueFloat Energy, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Corio Generation, Equinor and SSE Renewables all developing offshore wind farms in the Bass Strait zone.
