Parkwind, Beach Energy bid for offshore wind licence in Australia

May 31 (Renewables Now) - Belgian offshore wind developer Parkwind this week said it has submitted a joint bid with Australian oil and gas production company Beach Energy Ltd (ASX:BPT) for a feasibility licence for offshore wind projects off the coast of Gippsland in the Australian state of Victoria.

Australia opened its first offshore wind area in the Bass Strait offshore Gippsland for feasibility licence applications in January, with a deadline for submissions of April 27.

Parkwind, which is in the process of being acquired by Japanese utility Jera Co Inc, is operating 1 GW of offshore wind parks in Belgium and Germany, and also has development projects in Ireland, Norway, Greece and Australia. Beach Energy has offshore gas infrastructure in the Bass Strait and can support the joint bid with its experience operating there.

The awards are expected by the end of the year.

Parkwind also said it is assessing wind generation sites in zones the Australian government plans for future licencing rounds.

The Belgian company’s announcement was followed by news on Tuesday that a four-party consortium including Mainstream Renewable Power and AGL Energy Ltd has submitted a feasibility licence application for a 2.5-GW offshore wind project in the Gippsland zone.