OPINION: Chris Bowen Backs Another Doomed Project – Hunter Offshore Wind Likely Dead in the Water Before a Single Blade Spins

Here we go again. Another grand green promise, another offshore wind project circling the drain—this time right off the coast of Newcastle. The so-called “Novocastrian” wind farm, once hailed as a cornerstone of Australia’s renewable energy future, now looks more like a monument to government delusion. And at the helm? None other than Energy Minister Chris Bowen, still singing the praises of a dying industry even as the rats flee the sinking turbine.

Let’s cut through the political spin: the Norwegian state-owned energy giant Equinor has effectively walked away from the Newcastle offshore wind project. Sure, they haven’t “formally” withdrawn yet—but they announced plans to do so back in May, and insiders say they’re simply waiting for the clock to run out. Their Australian partner, Oceanex, begged for an extension just to find a new investor, but that’s looking more like a fantasy with each passing day. According to reports, there’s little hope of securing a backer before the license offer expires at the end of August.