Feasibility Permit Round Opening

New Zealand Offshore Wind Welcomes Feasibility Permit Round

 

NZ Offshore Wind Limited (NZOWL) welcomes the announcement of the coming opening of feasibility permit applications for offshore wind energy projects.

Director Nick Jackson said this is an exciting milestone for the industry, coming after the passage earlier this year of the legislation enabling offshore renewable energy projects in New Zealand waters. Feasibility permits, once awarded, provide developers up to seven years to progress their projects, with NZOWL having been working on its projects since 2019.

Owned by New Zealand company, Elemental Group Ltd, NZOWL is taking forward two proposed large-scale wind farms in South Taranaki and South Auckland/Waikato, which it had partnered with global player BlueFloat Energy on till late 2024, when BlueFloat withdrew from New Zealand.

Nick says the company is excited to be taking the projects forward, which includes all the studies, preparatory work and planning done with BlueFloat between 2021 and 2024, and further work since.

“Opening up for applications sends the signal that New Zealand is ready to harness its globally leading wind resource to deliver reliable, affordable, green energy at scale, to ensure the country’s businesses and households can power into a green future,” said Nick.

NZOWL Director, Justine Gilliland, said “We thank the Government for delivering on its commitment to progress the regulatory settings to enable offshore wind projects. Pace is crucial if we want New Zealand to harness this incredible resource and have it providing much-needed energy, as well as attract investment into and create jobs for New Zealand.”

Justine noted that offshore wind has the potential to play a role in New Zealand’s electricity system akin to the role hydro generation currently plays, with nearly similar ‘capacity factors’ (i.e. the amount of time electricity is generated), as well as a non-correlation with dry years and onshore wind (i.e. generating when there are calm days and dry years onshore) and complementarity to solar, not being affected by cloud or night.

Toko Kapea, also a director of NZOWL, noted that the cross-party support for the legislation and the round opening has been very valuable, and remains so, providing developers with certainty about the country’s commitment to this key renewable energy opportunity.

Contact for media queries: Justine Gilliland, 027 33 252 46, justine@inperspective.co.nz

 

NZOWL Media Statement – Feasibility permit round opening

MBIE Announcement – Offshore renewable energy feasibility permit application round announced