A new bill introduced to federal parliament will spark the development of the emerging offshore wind industry in Australia. It is the first of its kind for Australia and aims to establish a regulatory framework for the construction, operation, maintenance and decommissioning of offshore electricity projects.

The Bill will empower the minister for Industry, Science, Energy and Resources to declare areas that are suitable for offshore renewable energy infrastructure, as well as to issue licences for private industry participants to undertake different types of offshore infrastructure-related activities.

Offshore renewable energy includes offshore wind farms, wave and tidal power as well as emerging technologies like ocean thermal energy.

Developing the offshore renewable energy sector supports the Australian Government’s objective to deliver a reliable, secure and affordable energy system through:

• helping to grow new sources of energy supply
• providing clean and efficient technology
• ensuring the energy sector is well regulated.

Offshore renewable energy generation can:

• offer large, year-round generation capacity
• provide benefits to the electricity network
• lessen visual impacts on the landscape, compared to other energy generation options
• establish new employment opportunities
• attract significant investment in Australia’s coastal economies.

The framework will regulate offshore renewable energy and electricity transmission projects. It will enable the construction, operation and decommissioning of offshore electricity infrastructure in Australian Commonwealth waters.