Australian Port Operator Makes Offshore Wind Plans Known

Australian port operator, NSW Ports, has unveiled concept plans for a large-scale port facility at Port Kembla’s Outer Harbour, in the Illawarra, to support offshore wind development projects, as New South Wales (NSW) transitions to renewable energy.

NSW Ports, which holds the long-term leases for Port Kembla and Port Botany, had developed concept plans for port facilities in the Outer Harbour to show how the port can be used to support offshore wind development projects.

Port Kembla is within the NSW government’s draft Illawarra Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), which has attracted more than AUD 43 billion in potential investment across 44 proposed projects, including 8 offshore wind generation initiatives.

NSW Ports CEO Marika Calfas said Port Kembla will be essential for delivering offshore wind projects to support this Australian state’s growing renewable energy demand, due to its ideal location.

”Port Kembla is close to Greater Sydney’s growing population and surrounded by industrial lands. It is within the NSW Government’s proposed Illawarra Renewable Energy Zone and adjacent to the Federal Government’s proposed Illawarra offshore wind development zone,” Calfas said.

”The proposed Outer Harbour offshore wind port facility provides an opportunity for significant job creation, domestic innovation and carbon emissions reduction. But we need to act now to support the rapidly emerging offshore wind development opportunities. Delivering such infrastructure in time requires significant collaboration between Government, private enterprise, industry and the community over the coming years.”

NSW Ports has been in discussions with offshore wind proponents about Port Kembla’s role in supporting this emerging renewable energy industry.

”Today’s announcement provides clarity on Port Kembla’s potential to support offshore wind projects and NSW Ports’ willingness to develop infrastructure to progress renewable generation initiatives,” Calfas said.

The port already handles the import and transportation of onshore wind components to support the development of wind farms across NSW and is expected to support hydrogen and critical minerals in the longer term.

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