Australia Wind Energy 2026 is uniting industry leaders to address investment, project and policy priorities in the wind energy sector.
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) sees wind energy as a key linchpin in Australia’s energy transition, with wind farms plugging the electricity gap left by retiring coal-fired power stations.
In its 2026 Integrated System Plan (ISP), AEMO discusses the optimal development path (ODP) – the lowest-cost energy mix required to meet consumer needs and government targets by 2050.
To achieve the ODP, Australia must increase its utility-scale wind and solar capacity from current capacity of about 23 gigawatts (GW) to 61GW by 2030, then double that to 117GW by 2050. Wind energy would comprise 45 per cent of this.
The need to uplift Australia’s wind energy industry will be a central theme of the upcoming Australia Wind Energy 2026 (AuWE2026) conference and exhibition, taking place in Melbourne in July.
Returning for its sixth edition, AuWE2026 stands as Australia’s largest onshore and offshore wind energy conference and exhibition, bringing together over 8000 industry professionals and more than 200 exhibitors from across the wind energy value chain. This includes a cross-section of policymakers, project developers, investors, utilities, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), transmission stakeholders and supply chain leaders.
The event will look to confront the major issues shaping the Australian wind market, including regulatory developments, grid and transmission readiness, project bankability, onshore wind innovation, and the future of offshore wind, to name a few themes.
“AuWE2026 reflects where the Australian wind market is heading in 2026 – with growing attention on transmission, investment readiness, offshore execution capability and the regional partnerships needed to support long-term development,” a spokesperson for Leader Associates, organiser of Australia Wind Energy 2026, said.
“As the market continues to evolve, the event provides a platform for the industry to exchange practical insights, strengthen partnerships and explore the next steps for delivery across both onshore and offshore wind.”
AuWE2026 will feature six dedicated conference streams designed to address the sector’s most pressing priorities and emerging opportunities: AuWE2026 Strategic Summit, Unlocking Wind Capital Summit, WindGrid Transmission Forum, Offshore WindTECH Summit, Onshore WindNEXT Summit, and Regional Development Forum.
Victorian Minister for Climate Action, Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio will kick off the Strategic Summit on day one, with other highlights including a capital investment discussion featuring representatives from Tilt Renewables, Squadron Energy and the Clean Energy Regulator, and a panel moderated by GHD wind sector lead – APAC Taraz Saba featuring executives from Vestas, Aula Energy, ENGIE, ACEN Australia and SEC Victoria.
The Unlocking Wind Capital Summit will include a fireside chat exploring the importance of corporate power purchase agreements (PPAs) for wind projects. Telstra, Collgar Renewables and OX2 will be represented in this conversation. Elsewhere, representatives from RWE Renewables Australia, Foresight Group, Equis, Potentia Energy and ANZ will feature on a panel exploring financing models and risk allocation in Australia’s wind market.
In the WindGrid Transmission Forum, VicGrid executive director – strategy and planning Adele McCarthy will deliver a keynote, while representatives from Tilt Renewables, EnergyCo, RWE and Neoen Australia will feature on a panel about strategic transmission planning for renewable energy zones.
Other organisations featuring in the conference program include CSIRO, Ocean Winds, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Iberdrola Australia, GE Vernova, Ørsted, ACCIONA Australia, and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
Together, AuWE2026’s forums will offer market outlook, financing, infrastructure, system readiness, and community engagement insights.
The event will also host more than 200 exhibitors, showcasing solutions across construction, operations, digitalisation and workforce development, alongside over 30 structured networking opportunities including industry breakfasts, happy hour networking, 1-to-1 meetings, networking lounges, and the Sustainability and Diversity Gala Dinner.
AuWE2026 will also welcome international delegations and pavilions from leading clean energy markets including the Netherlands, Spain, the UK, Japan, South Korea and Singapore, underlining the event’s global focus and relevance to the broader energy transition landscape.
Forming part of APAC Energy Transition Week, Australia Wind Energy 2026 is co-located with Carbon Capture APAC Summit 2026, SAF APAC Summit 2026, and AI for Energy Transition APAC 2026, creating a platform for cross-sector dialogue and collaboration.
Australia Wind Energy 2026 takes place in Melbourne from July 8–9. Learn more at windenergyaustralia.com
This feature appeared in the June edition of Energy.
