Plans lodged for giant offshore wind farm

A Danish company is hoping to secure environmental approval for an ambitious offshore wind farm spanning the coast from Bunbury to Mandurah, larger than any in operation around the world.

Copenhagen Energy has proposed a 3-gigawatt offshore wind farm off the Leeuwin Coast, equivalent to more than half of the capacity in the state’s main power grid.

The company submitted documents for federal environmental approval in mid-February.

Photo: The envelope of the Leeuwin project compared to Australis' proposed WA Offshore Wind Farm. Photo: Copenhagen Energy

While the cost was undisclosed, for comparison, the 2.2GW Star of the South project planned in Victoria would reportedly have a price tag of more than $8 billion, if it proceeds.

The Clean Energy Council estimated a 1GW offshore wind farm would cost more than $US4 billion as at 2018.

Copenhagen’s Leeuwin Offshore Wind Farm is one of numerous huge renewable power developments that have been floated across Western Australia, although it is unclear how many will be successful.

In February, Business News revealed a multi-billion-dollar project by Fortescue Future Industries intended to power its renewable operations in the Pilbara, named the Uaroo Renewable Energy Hub.

Among offshore wind projects, Australis Energy has proposed a development off the coast of Myalup, north of Bunbury.

Australis submitted documents to the state’s Environmental Protection Authority last year.

But Copenhagen’s nearby project would be 10 times larger in capacity.

It would have up to 200 wind turbines in a 420,000-hectare development envelope in Commonwealth waters, the documents show.

Construction would begin in 2026 and take three years.

There would be 71 threatened species and 69 migratory species of national significance in the area impacted by the development, while octopus and rock lobster fisheries are also in the envelope.

To make the project stack up, the proponents would need substantial capital, and buyers to offtake a large amount of electricity in what is a small market.

The company's proposal shows that it hopes the project will cut emissions and potentially support the development of a local hydrogen industry.

Copenhagen Energy was founded in 2020 by Jasmin Bejdic and Andreas von Rosen, according to its website, both of whom have previously developed renewables projects in Europe.

The largest was the Jammerland Bay and Omo South offshore wind farms project, at 560MW.

That is heading towards financial close, according to Copenhagen.