WITH the State Government fiercely advocating the importance of renewable energy, Minister for Climate Action and for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio was an interested visitor at Barry Beach marine terminal on Friday aboard a vessel that will be at the centre of an impending research project.
The Fugro Mariner is expected to spend three weeks at sea drilling for core samples that will be used to assess what support will be needed for offshore wind generation equipment.
Samples collected will be refrigerated and sent to a specialist laboratory in Perth, Western Australia for analysis.
Clive Bray, the Australian Mariner aboard the ship explained dynamic positioning will be used to ensure the Fugro Mariner is precisely located when drilling for samples, a previously conducted survey determining the exact spots it needs to be.
At the time of the ship tour, the vessel was expected to depart on March 9 or 10 to conduct the required geotechnical studies.
The research is being conducted on behalf of a wind energy generation proponent that hopes to establish an offshore wind project off the coast of Gippsland, approximately 10 kilometres from Seaspray.
While that intended project comes under the name Blue Mackerel, Japanese company JERA Nex is behind it, through its wholly owned subsidiary Parkwind.
JERA Nex invests in, owns and operates a global portfolio of offshore wind, onshore wind, solar and battery storage projects.
Blue Mackerel Project Director Dave Ghaly explained the importance of the information gathered through the upcoming sampling project.
“We’ll be using that to design our foundations to put the turbines on,” he said.
Geotechnical Engineer Iwan Setiawan said detailed information will be recorded for each sample that will be linked to the precise location and depth from which it was obtained, with supporting photos to be taken.
Everything will be recorded electronically in a paperless environment.
Iwan will work alongside a Laboratory Technician who is responsible for conducting soil testing, with Iwan in charge of soil descriptions and ensuring testing is done appropriately.
Those on the tour then ventured outside to where the ship’s drilling infrastructure is located, hearing from Fugro’s Business Manager – Marine Geotechnical Pacific, Luka Vrdoljak.
The tour helped reveal the extensive research required before it is determined which offshore wind energy projects will get the green light to proceed.
A commercial licence would be needed for each proposed project and research must support its viability.
“Only when the project is proven to be environmentally, technically and commercially viable will construction proceed,” it is stated on the Blue Mackerel website.
The Australian Government granted 12 feasibility licences for offshore wind projects off Gippsland’s coast, with the feasibility licence process highly competitive.
A feasibility licence lasts for up to seven years, allowing time for licence holders to explore the feasibility of their proposed offshore wind energy projects, seek environmental approvals and prepare a management plan.
