The Government of Australia has granted feasibility licences to six wind farm projects offshore Gippsland in the state of Victoria.
The licences will enable the developers to conduct environmental assessments and geotechnical surveys in the designated wind farm zone.
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The successful projects are Blue Mackerel North, Gippsland Skies, High Sea Wind, Kut-Wut Brataualung, Ørsted Offshore Australia 1 and Star of the South wind farm.
All were selected after submitting applications in 2023.
An additional six projects may receive feasibility licences pending consultations with indigenous groups.
Collectively the 12 proposals, featuring companies such as Ørsted and Iberdrola, will deliver 25GW of generation capacity.
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By GlobalDataThis exceeds Victoria’s current capacity and will compensate for the phase-out of coal-fired power.
Australia’s Climate Change and Energy Minister, Chris Bowen, stated: “Australia’s offshore wind industry presents a huge opportunity for the regions that have powered our country 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 have awarded feasibility licences to projects that would bring the most rewards for Gippsland, its workforce and our energy security.”
The feasibility studies are a precursor to obtaining a commercial licence for constructing an offshore wind project, should the studies confirm viability.
The wind farms will create 15,000 jobs during their construction phase and 7,500 permanent positions thereafter.
Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio emphasises the significance of the projects in achieving the state’s renewable energy goals.
Victoria has set ambitious targets for offshore wind energy, aiming for at least 2GW by 2032, 4GW by 2035 and 9GW by 2040.
Lily D’Ambrosio stated: “We are 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.”
In March 2023, the Australian Government designated a new offshore wind zone in the Southern Ocean off western Victoria, the country’s third.
The new zone will produce 2.9GW of wind energy, enough to supply electricity to two million homes, and bolster onshore manufacturing by providing cleaner and more affordable energy.
