Copenhagen Energy moves on $8bn wind farm

Danish renewables developer Copenhagen Energy has unveiled plans to build an $8 billion wind farm off the coast of Lancelin, the company’s third proposal for Western Australia.

The company has lodged plans with the federal government this week to build a three-gigawatt wind farm comprising 200 turbines spanning 166,000 hectares that could operate for half a century.

Though an exact location for the development has not yet been decided, the wind farm would sit between Two Rocks and Lancelin in Perth’s north and be connected to a land-based transfer station via subsea export cables.

According to documents lodged by Copenhagen Energy, the Samphire Offshore Wind Farm proposal would create 14,500 jobs during the construction phase and up to 200 in operation.

The developer said the operation itself would generate enough electricity to power 3 million homes and help offset more than 6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

It hopes to begin its three-year construction phase in 2029, subject to receiving state and federal environmental approvals.

The project is one of four being floated by Copenhagen Energy, which chief executive Jasmin Bejdic said was a product of building momentum for an offshore wind farm sector in Australia.

“Offshore wind farms will deliver new jobs, green energy, and help Australia reach its carbon emission targets,” he said.

“WA is uniquely well positioned to harness wind energy, particularly from offshore wind farms, with Perth being ranked the third windiest city in the world.

“The release of our Samphire proposal is just the start of a long process that will involve comprehensive studies to understand the environmental, economic, and social impacts of our project.

“As with our other projects, we are talking to a range of local, state and federal government agencies and local community, tourism, and fishing groups about our project and how we can develop it successfully.”

Samphire is one of four wind farm proposals off the WA coast being progressed by Copenhagen Energy, which is also seeking approval to build one off Binningup in the state’s south and another in the Mid West.

The company indicated it was working on its fourth project, the Velella Offshore Wind Farm, but its location has not yet been revealed.

Several other companies have floated similar plans since the federal government announced areas earmarked for development, including Australis Energy’s with its development off Myalup.