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Question and Answer Tracking Details

8425 - Energy - WIND ENERGY

Shoebridge, David to the Minister for Finance, and Minister for Employee Relations representing the Treasurer, and Minister for Energy

(1) What steps has the Government taken to put in place a  positive  regulatory  framework  for  offshore wind?

(2) Are there any plans to extend either the Newcastle or the Illawarra Renewable Energy  Zones  offshore, at  least to the edge of  the  State limits?
Answer -

(1) In December 2021, the Commonwealth Government passed the Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Bill 2021. The Commonwealth Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources (DISER) is currently working on the regulations that outline the process to declare specified areas suitable for offshore renewable energy infrastructure from three nautical miles and grant exploration and infrastructure licences.

The NSW Government has offered assistance to both the Federal Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction, the Hon Angus Taylor MP, and DISER, to support the implementation of the legislation, including prioritising consideration of areas offshore from both Newcastle and Wollongong.

At this stage, information from the industry indicates that the best locations for offshore wind projects would be at least 20 kilometres off the NSW coast in Commonwealth waters and utilise floating wind turbine technology.

The Energy Corporation of NSW (EnergyCo) is currently considering the design of the Hunter-Central Coast and Illawarra Renewable Energy Zones (REZs), including opportunities to support the development of offshore wind projects in consultation with the Australian Government and other stakeholders.

(2) EnergyCo will define a geographic area for the Hunter-Central Coast and Illawarra REZs which will be informed by the outcome of the industry registration of interest process and further consultation with relevant stakeholders in the coming months. At this stage, EnergyCo anticipates that offshore wind projects would be located outside of the REZ geographic area in Commonwealth waters and connect to REZ network infrastructure located on land within the REZ geographic area.

Question asked on 11 March 2022 (session 57-1) and published in Questions & Answers Paper No. 699
Answer received on 1 April 2022 and published in Questions & Answers Paper No. 714

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