EDF Renewables Australia has submitted an application to the Federal government seeking a Feasibility License for the Newcastle Offshore Wind (NOW) Project within the Hunter Declared Area, marking a significant milestone on the Project’s journey.
The NOW Project is expected to create over 4,000 highly skilled Australian jobs during construction and over 250 jobs during operation. The NOW Project will make an enormous contribution to the regional economy through employment, and the souring of services and materials from local businesses, which will provide a clear and tangible pathway for the region to adapt to the ongoing and increasing decarbonisation of Australia while ensuring energy security.
In its submission, EDF Renewables detailed a comprehensive project development plan, including a thorough action plan on its commitment to generating employment opportunities, fostering educational and research collaborations with the University of Newcastle, conducting extensive environmental studies over multiple years to ascertain the potential impact of the project on marine life, and outlining its methodology for assessing the effects the project may exert on current maritime and marine users.
The NOW Project was acquired by EDF Renewables from a consortium of Newcastle based renewable energy developers, which had undertaken many years of substantial local community engagement and had a strong understanding of community requirements and expectations. EDF Renewables Australian CEO, Dave Johnson said EDF Renewables Australia has built upon a well-established local connection with the community through prior initiatives, and extended this engagement more broadly across larger stakeholder groups.
“The granting of a feasibility license for the NOW Project will allow EDF Renewables Australia to further work with the community to truly understand the impacts prior to beginning the Project’s assessment and approval process. In this way these concerns can then be designed and addressed throughout the development process.”
Mr Johnson went on to say that EDF Renewables, as an experienced global offshore wind developer and operator, EDF Renewables is deeply committed to open and transparent consultation.
“We want to hear what all of the community really thinks,” stated Mr Johnson. “Our commitment to regular and transparent community consultation is critical to the engagement for any project, and even more so for a regionally significant transformation project such as NOW.”
Mr Johnson said there are some concerns in the community but wanted to reassure residents that EDF Renewables Australia do more than just listen to communities, they act upon the genuine concerns.
“During the development of other projects across our portfolio, EDF Renewables Australia has amended its project scope to accommodate community concerns prior to commencing development approval processes; it’s important we receive a range of feedback from different stakeholders, so the project can proceed with these concerns addressed.”
Mr Johnson concluded that the EDF Renewables Australia team were very keen on the NOW project as the broad regional and local benefits that such a project would bring would be transformative and long lasting, in a region that is already on the decarbonization conveyor belt.
For more information: https://www.newcastleoffshorewind.com.au/
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