Imagine a field of 105 floating wind turbines, reaching 300 metres above the sea level, 15-35 kilometres offshore from Bombo to Currarong.

This is what is envisaged for the $5 billion South Pacific Offshore Wind Project - a joint venture between BlueFloat Energy, a Spanish-based globally operating offshore wind developer, and Australian clean energy company Energy Estate - generating 1.6GW of electricity a year.

If approved, the enormous floating windmills with blades 100 metres long, tethered to the ocean floor, will be visible from shore (particularly given our topography) and will become a defining feature of the region in around seven years’ time, as Australia moves towards a greener future. A simulation of the visual impact of the wind farm from shore will be available shortly.

The details have been unveiled by the companies ahead of the Federal Government formally declaring the scope of the proposed wind farm zone off the Illawarra coast. This is necessary for the proponents to apply for a feasibility licence as the first stage in the process of gaining approval.

“That [the feasibility licence] will give us the exclusive right to an area and the ability to deploy monitoring devices and conduct studies [bird and marine life] within that area,” says BlueFloat Energy’s Australian Country Manager, Nick Sankey.

“We anticipate a lot of those studies will take two years of monitoring, and then we will go through the environmental assessment process with the Federal Government and the State for state water issues.”

The proposed location of the South Pacific Project - the whole zoned area has not been outlined yet by the Government

The process of declaring zoning in Australian waters for wind farms is underway for the first time down in the waters off Gippsland, where the same partners are looking to develop a 2GW bottom-fixed site.

In announcing the proposed zone for the Gippsland region in August, the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, said, “Unlocking the offshore wind industry is an exciting new chapter for Australia and we want to build a platform of community collaboration and support around it. 

“We have some of the best wind resources in the world - just one rotation of one offshore wind turbine provides as much energy as an average rooftop solar installation generates in one day.

“This new industry will provide opportunities to reduce emissions and fast track job and economic development opportunities for regional Australia particularly in clean energy generation and manufacturing. 

“Many other countries have been successfully harvesting offshore wind energy for years, and now is the time for Australia to start the journey to firmly establish this reliable and significant form of renewable energy.”

Floating technology is a recent development, to allow the windmills to go further out to sea

The public exhibition period for this first zone ended in October, and the final declaration is expected shortly.

The Illawarra is one of five other regions identified by the Government for offshore wind – with the others being regions off the Hunter, Portland, Northern Tasmania and Perth/Bunbury.

“The windmills prefer a moderate to strong consistent wind and these areas have been identified for that,” says Mr Sankey.

“When they get up to a certain speed, the turbine will click off and not generate power.”

He has over 20 years’ experience in the renewable energy industry, most recently with a large solar project in Gladstone, and says the South Pacific Project will create around 3000 jobs during construction and 2-300 when it is operational.

“We are expecting the Hunter coast to be the next zone to start the process by being outlined,” says Mr Sankey, adding there is conjecture that zone may end up running all the way from the Hunter to the Illawarra.

Whether it happens jointly or individually, once the Illawarra’s zoning is eventually formally declared and they obtain a feasibility licence, he says it will be five years before they will be able to begin a two to three year construction period.

While the windmills will be able to be seen, Mr Sankay says they won’t be able to be heard onshore, will have no impact on the surf, and will take into account marine traffic, Defence requirements and recreational fishers as well as the impact on whales, birds and other aspects of the environment. First Nations people will also be consulted.

While councils have no role in the approval process, which involves both the Commonwealth and State, he says they are keen to engage with them and hear if there are concerns or requests from residents or businesses.

The entire floating platform, the tower, the turbines and the blades will be constructed and assembled in a port area.

“Out at the site we secure mooring lines, and after fully assembling it we will tug out the completed turbine and hook it up,” he says.

“Will need to try and sure up supply chains so we can be producing as much as we can as close to the port as possible.”

The construction of a project in the Atlantic by EDP, another developer, explains the process

While Port Kembla seems the obvious choice, Mr Sankay says there are other options further afield if the right facilities are not available.

The generated electricity will come ashore via cables, currently mooted to land at Minnamurra or Bombo Headland, and feed into the transmission grid at Dapto.

Drop-in information sessions have been organised in Kiama and Wollongong to give locals an opportunity to find out more about the project.

“It is a chance for people to come in and ask questions of us and let us know their views,” says Mr Sankay.

Alternatively, a more formal presentation is being given in a webinar.

“I realise it’s very early days for this wind farm concept, but I do hope the community make time to attend the proponents’ sessions and learn the facts. It’s vital that the community give their feedback,” says Council CEO Jane Stroud.

“Our councillors and I are yet to be engaged and provided briefings.

“To be honest, without all the facts it’s hard to know, but right now I’m of the view that Kiama and its coastline are not the right place for this project.

“I believe there is much more work and thinking to be done on all the impacts associated with this kind of project in this location.”

The windmills in the project will be bigger than this, and two km apart

The Member for Gilmore, Fiona Phillips, strongly supports the development of the industry, but warns it is early days.

“Establishing an offshore wind industry in Australia is still in incredibly early stages. While waters off the Illawarra coast have been identified by the Government as a potential area for wind farm investigation, there are many steps that need to be taken before any proposals could be considered,” she says.

“No specific locations along the Illawarra or South Coast have been identified or approved at this stage, and no projects are currently being considered by the Government.

“I also want to stress that the Australian Government will conduct full and proper community consultation on the regions of wind farm potential, including location, size and other limitations, before these areas become available for potential projects.”

Another company, OceanEx, is planning on a project in the Illawarra zone, but it has not yet gone public on its preferred location.

Kiama session: 6 December, The Pavilion, 4-7pm

Online session: 7 December, 5-6pm (available for viewing after that)