How offshore wind works and can benefit Australia

What are fixed and floating foundations in offshore wind?

There are two main foundations used to anchor offshore wind turbines. Most offshore wind turbines use a ‘fixed-bottom’ foundation, which means the foundations are anchored directly to the seabed and are suitable for shallow waters.

Fixed-bottom foundation turbines are currently limited to water depths of up to 60 metres; however, it is expected in the coming decade this will increase as installation technology develops. There are variations on the kinds of structures that are fixed to the seabed, utilising advanced technology that has been used for more than three decades.⁹

Floating foundations, on the other hand, are used in deeper waters, ideally suited in water depths beyond 60 metres.¹⁰ They comprise of turbines mounted on floating platforms, which are anchored to the seabed with mooring lines,¹¹ with various types of floating foundations and

mooring-type combinations dependant on location and ocean depths.

What impact can offshore wind have on local economies?

Offshore wind projects can create thousands of jobs and bring significant investment to local economies. For example, a 2-gigawatt offshore wind farm has the potential to create 6,000 jobs, invest billions in a region’s economy and power around 1.2 million homes.12

A direct example of this is the Hornsea wind farm off the coast of Grimsby, UK, which has significantly revitalised the local economy. The town has become a hub for offshore wind operations, attracting substantial investments and creating numerous jobs.13 Ørsted, Hornsea’s offshore wind developer, has invested over £9.5 billion in infrastructure and assets in Grimsby, with plans for an additional £14 billion.14

The sector has also spurred growth in local businesses, from supply chain companies to service providers like hotels and restaurants. Grimsby is now recognised as a leader in offshore wind technology, contributing to the UK’s renewable energy goals.

^{9 BECRC_OWE-in-Aus-Project-Report_P.3.20.007_V2_e190721.pdf}

^{10 Floating Foundations: A Game Changer for Offshore Wind Power}

^{11 Floating Foundation for Offshore Wind Turbines: A Game-Changer in Renewable Energy}

^{12 Star of the South: https://www.starofthesouth.com.au/project-overview}

^{13 Growing_the_UKs_coastal_economy.pdf}

^{14 Ørsted celebrates 10 years of offshore wind in the Humber}

^{15 Making eco-sustainable floating offshore wind farms: Siting, mitigations, and compensations - ScienceDirect}

^{16 Southern Ocean region off Victoria, declared offshore wind area - DCCEEW}

^{17 Wind turbine visualisations}

^{18 Hunter region declared suitable for offshore wind - DCCEEW}

^{19 Indian Ocean off the Bunbury region, Western Australia declared offshore wind area - DCCEEW}

^{20 Illawarra, NSW declared offshore wind area - DCCEEW}

^{21 Bass Strait, Northern Tasmania proposed offshore wind area - DCCEEW}