The Illawarra Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) entered its community consultation phase last week. The zone specifically targets offshore wind, and will commence 10 to 50 kilometres off-shore and run south from Wombarra to about Kiama.
The choice of location has the advantage of proximity to Port Kembla port facilities, educational institutions and workforce. However, the location is based on political factors as much as geographic ones, as the region stands to lose substantial employment from the phase-out of coal.
Marking the start of the consultation period last week, Energy Minister Chris Bowen toured the area, touting of course, “Jobs, Jobs, Jobs for the Illawarra.” As with developments in the Hunter, the intent is to neutralise any backlash against the zero-carbon transition.
The Illawarra REZ was in fact one of five state-wide planned by former NSW Treasurer Matt Kean. The ALP has enthusiastically picked up the ball and run with it.
Curiously, Kean forecast the Illawarra REZ creating 8,300 jobs. Bowen has the figure at just 2,500.
A major player in the development push is Australian company OceanEx, founded by Andy Evans and Peter Sgardelis. They are reportedly backed by Japanese industrial conglomerate Daiwa.
Community opposition is certainly possible in the Illawarra but there are no signs of organised opposition as yet, with online anti-wind groups apparently receiving sparse engagement. This is in part a consequence of technical advances in off-shore wind development.
“The benefits of offshore wind projects is that they reduce interaction and visual impacts,” Evans told RenewEconomy. “A recent World Bank report suggested that 75% of offshore wind will be floating, because they can be located further out to see, have unimpeded winds, and can even be moved, and they are less reliant on the geo-technical features of the sea bed.”
Feature image courtesy of @blclark via Unsplash.
Sign Up To Our Free Newsletter