Licences have been granted or offered for six potential wind projects to be located off Gippsland.
The licences mean that detailed assessment work to determine feasibility, including environmental studies and management plans, can now be commenced for the six regional projects.
Consultation with First Nations groups, communities, and marine users are expected to continue throughout the feasibility licence process.
If feasibility is proven, developers can apply for a commercial licence to build an offshore wind project to generate electricity commercially.
The projects include:
- High Sea Wind Pty Ltd
- Gippsland Skies Pty Ltd
- Blue Mackerel North Pty Ltd
- Kut-Wut Brataualung Pty Ltd
- Ørsted Offshore Australia 1 Pty Ltd (Gippsland 01)
- Star of the South Wind Farm Pty Ltd
The Victorian Government said that it intends to grant another six licences, subject to First Nations consultation, including:
- Iberdrola Australia OW 2 Pty Ltd (Aurora Green)
- Greater Gippsland 2 OWP Project Pty Ltd (Gippsland Dawn)
- Navigator North Project Pty Ltd
- Ørsted Offshore Australia 1 Pty Ltd (Gippsland 02)
- Kent Offshore Wind Pty Ltd
- Great Eastern Offshore Wind Farm Project Co Pty Ltd
The 12 projects could generate up to 25GW of electricity, which is more electricity that the entire state of Victoria generated in 2023.
The proposed projects could create over 15,000 jobs during construction and another 7,500 ongoing jobs.
Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, said that Australia’s offshore wind industry presents a huge opportunity for the regions that have powered Australia for generations.
“Australia’s first offshore wind zone has hit a new milestone, with reliable renewables and secure jobs a step closer for Gippsland.
“Granting feasibility licences is the next step to helping deliver a new clean energy industry for Australia, as well as future proof energy security and reliability for Victoria.
“I’ve awarded feasibility licences to projects that would bring the most rewards for Gippsland, its workforce and for our energy security.”
Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources, Lily D’Ambrosio, said projects in the Gippsland offshore wind zone will be key to delivering the state’s renewable energy transition and meeting targets of at least 2GW of offshore wind energy generation by 2032, 4GW by 2035 and 9GW by 2040.
“We’re proud to be paving the way for the country’s first offshore wind farms which will harness our world class offshore wind resources and power homes and businesses across Australia with renewable energy.
“These offshore wind projects will also support thousands of jobs in Gippsland and across the supply chain – opening up new opportunities for skills development within the renewable energy industry.”
Image credit: fokke baarssen/Shutterstock.com.
