According to Ørsted, the survey programme plays a critical role in informing the development of the offshore wind project by assisting the company in understanding all aspects of the Bass Strait marine environment.
This includes vessel-based and aerial marine fauna surveys (seabirds and marine mammals), underwater acoustic monitoring, and marine ecology studies.
The data collected will inform the project’s design and should help minimise the environmental impact of the wind farms. The baseline data will be used as part of environmental impact assessments and included in environmental approvals.
AECOM, the global infrastructure consulting firm, is leading the project’s environmental studies, with the first marine field surveys being undertaken in collaboration with Nature Advisory and HiDef.
Following this, the maritime consulting companies JASCO Applied Sciences and BMT will commence underwater acoustic monitoring, aerial marine mammal surveys, and marine ecology studies in the new year.
“We’re thrilled to kick off this important work and look forward to collaborating with our hand-picked local experts. These partnerships not only support the project’s delivery but also assist us in delivering on Ørsted’s commitment to supporting the country’s renewable energy goals, transferring offshore wind experience across the continent, and enhancing local employment opportunities,” said Albert Quan, project director for Gippsland Offshore Wind Farm at Ørsted.
Ørsted was one of the first companies to secure a feasibility licence for offshore wind projects proposed to be built offshore Gippsland.
The project sites have the potential to generate a combined 4.8 GW of renewable energy (2.8 GW Gippsland 1 and 2 GW Gippsland 2), which could power the equivalent of four million Australian homes, according to the developer.
Recently, Ørsted awarded MMA Offshore a wind survey contract under which the company will provide a set of subsea data to support future offshore wind developments in the region.
The survey will run through the first quarter of 2025.
