A consortium of BlueFloat Energy, Energy Estate and Elemental Group has unveiled plans for a 900-MW offshore windfarm off the coast of New Zealand
The windfarm, which they plan to build 22 km off the coast of South Taranaki, is the first of four offshore wind projects planned by the consortium in New Zealand with the potential to add up to 5 GW of new clean energy generation.
The South Taranaki project will use fixed bottom technology and will be installed to the west of Beach Energy’s Kupe platform in the South Taranaki Bight. The proposed site was identified as offering huge potential in theOffshore Wind Discussion Paperpublished by Venture Taranaki in April 2020, due to the site’s unique characteristics and favourable environmental conditions.
That study identified an area large enough for several offshore windfarms to be built by different developers that would be compatible with each other and help accelerate the transition to clean energy.
Offshore windfarms in the area would benefit from being close to Port Taranaki, the only deep-water port on the west coast, allowing easy access to build, import and transport materials.
The area in question also has a relatively flat seabed with a water depth of less than 50 m, suitable for fixed-bottom turbines. The area is also close to industrial facilities where electricity can be converted to green hydrogen and there is further potential for floating windfarms to be developed in subsequent phases alongside the initial phase of fixed bottom projects.
The proposed site for the South Taranaki offshore windfarm covers approximately 230 km2 andsits beyond the 12-mile nautical zone and outside the boundaries of the West Coast North Island Marine Mammal Sanctuary and the sensitive eco-system of the Patea Reef.
In August the joint venture announced that Beach Energy is facilitating the placement of a LiDAR on its Kupe platform and will share the data with several offshore wind developers.
The project is conservatively estimated to create at least 600 jobs in construction, operations and maintenance and to create further employment opportunities throughout the supply chain.
The project is currently in the feasibility stage, but the partnership believes that construction could commence before 2030.
