Offshore renewable electricity generation technology continues to advance and includes harnessing energy from the wind, tides and ocean currents, and waves. A range of offshore technologies are being pursued to varying degrees internationally and in Australia, with offshore wind technology proving the most popular, and commercialised, to date.
Demand for renewable energy supplied through Western Australia’s electricity networks is set to increase significantly. The WA government has established an Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Working Group (OEI Working Group) with representatives from WA government agencies consisting of expertise in energy, environment, land use and planning, the maritime environment, transport, fisheries, and industry development, focusing on identifying:
- key issues for the potential development of this technology in WA;
- the risks and opportunities,
- regulatory approvals pathways, and
- potential priority wind areas in Commonwealth waters.
Offshore wind energy is a clean energy resource and one possible component of WA’s future energy mix that can assist in the achievement of these objectives, alongside large-scale solar, onshore wind energy, rooftop solar, renewable hydrogen, and energy storage solutions such as batteries.
For more information please see the Offshore Electricity Infrastructure – Frequently Asked Questions page.
