<
https://theconversation.com/australia-is-poised-to-be-a-world-leader-in-offshore-wind-but-any-potential-risks-to-marine-life-remain-poorly-regulated-193212>
"The strong winds blowing over Australia’s rugged coastlines will soon power
many of our homes, as offshore wind farms are poised to begin construction. But
our new research highlights the need to ensure any potential risks to marine
life is properly mitigated.
The federal government has recently made a string of announcements as part of
its A$20 billion Rewiring the Nation Plan, ahead of last night’s federal
budget. This includes $1.5 billion to fast-track the development of offshore
wind farms and renewable energy zones in Victoria, as well as funding for the
Marinus link (an electricity cable connecting Tasmania and Victoria), and
pumped hydro developments.
By embracing what the energy world calls the “big three” – offshore wind, solar
power and onshore wind power – Australia’s renewable energy exports alone could
be worth $333 billion each year. That’s almost triple what we currently get
from fossil fuels.
Our research calls for Australia to put marine spatial planning processes into
offshore wind regulation. This considers how infrastructure and ecosystems can
co-locate, by mapping out the best sites for generating the most electricity
with the least environmental impact.
With effective regulation, Australia’s offshore wind industry can be a leader
in ecologically sustainable development."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
