NSW Ports will join parliamentarians, renewable energy proponents, manufacturers and investors alongside the University of Wollongong and business and industry groups at Parliament House in Canberra today, to showcase the Illawarra’s future as a renewable energy powerhouse.
NSW Ports CEO Marika Calfas said the business’ Port Kembla precinct and the Illawarra more broadly had all the pieces of the energy puzzle to help deliver a more sustainable future.
“We recently unveiled concept plans for a large-scale port facility at Port Kembla’s Outer Harbour, which demonstrate how the port can be used to support the rapidly emerging offshore wind industry over the coming years,” she said.
“Port Kembla’s ideal location, connectivity and diverse industrial precinct makes it perfectly positioned to deliver these types of projects to support NSW’s growing renewables demand.”
Port Kembla is close to Greater Sydney’s growing population and surrounded by industrial lands. It is within the NSW Government’s Illawarra Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) and adjacent to the Federal Government’s proposed Illawarra offshore wind development zone.
The NSW REZ has already attracted more than $43 billion in potential investment across 44 proposed projects, including 8 offshore wind generation initiatives.
“Our proposed offshore wind facility provides an opportunity for significant job creation, domestic innovation and decarbonisation. But we need to act now to support these types of renewable energy opportunities that can strengthen our region and support our State,” Ms Calfas said.
“Delivering this type of major infrastructure in time requires substantial and ongoing collaboration between Government, private enterprise, industry and the community over the coming years.
“That’s precisely why we’re all gathering in the nation’s capital today to demonstrate to decision makers that the Illawarra is united and ready to develop and help deliver Australia’s renewable future.”
Ms Calfas said the offshore wind port facility concept plans and discussions with offshore wind proponents highlight Port Kembla’s potential to support offshore wind projects and NSW Ports’ willingness to develop significant infrastructure to progress renewable energy initiatives.
“The port already handles renewable energy components to support the development of onshore wind farms and solar power and is expected to support hydrogen and critical minerals in the longer term,” she said.
Port Kembla is a key infrastructure asset and economic driver for NSW and the nation – contributing $2.9 billion a year to the State economy and supporting about 10,000 jobs. Further information about NSW Ports’ sustainability initiatives is available here.
For media inquiries, contact:
Brooke.Eggleton@nswports.com.au | 0419 684 953