One of the world’s biggest coal ports, the Port of Newcastle in New South Wales, has put its hand up to become an offshore wind hub, to service the up to 5 gigawatts of floating turbine projects expected to – one day – populate the Hunter development zone.
The Port of Newcastle (PON), which is 50/50 owned by Macquarie’s The Infrastructure Fund and China Merchants Port Holdings Company, said on LinkedIn this week that a new study has confirmed it as a “prime candidate” to support floating offshore wind (FOW) deployment.
The Hunter offshore wind zone, Australia’s second declared development zone, is a nearly 2,000km square area in the Pacific Ocean, which stretches over 1,800km2 between Swansea and Port Stephens, and will be the first in Australia to host floating turbines.
PON says that its “deep draft navigation channel, available development area, and absence of bridge infrastructure” make it highly suitable for a role as an offshore with hub. A study was commissioned to identify the quantity and size of new facilities that might be needed.
“The study indicated that with investment and appropriate stakeholder consultation, the PON has the physical characteristics to support the FOW industry in New South Wales (NSW) and the wider Australasia region,” a statement says.
