Australia’s Alinta Energy has partnered with Parkwind, a subsidiary of JERA Nex, to jointly develop the more than 1GW Spinifex Offshore Wind Farm in south-west Victoria, Australia.

Under the agreement, Alinta Energy and JERA Nex, the newly formed renewable energy company of Japanese utility JERA, will utilise their respective expertise and capabilities to develop the Spinifex project.

To be located in the Southern Ocean Region Declared Area off of Victoria’s coast, the wind farm is expected to generate enough power for 650,000 homes annually.

The site has been selected and the parties are actively engaging with local stakeholders to advance the project.

A local supply chain and industry development study conducted last year highlighted the potential economic impact of the Spinifex Project.

As per the study, the project is expected to inject up to A$1.6bn into the regional economy during the construction phase and contribute A$40m annually once operational.

Alinta Energy CEO and managing director Jeff Dimery said: “JERA and Parkwind both have a great track record in offshore wind and have pioneered some impressive engineering and construction techniques. We love that spirit and the launch of JERA Nex, bringing the two companies’ renewable expertise together, is exactly what we will need in Australia to build a new industry from the ground up.

“The other thing that attracted us to JERA Nex was its shared vision for ensuring the project benefits communities in south-west Victoria.”

JERA Nex Development & Construction Offshore vice-president and Parkwind co-CEO Francois Van Leeuw said: “There is huge potential for offshore wind in Australia and we are confident that the combination of Alinta Energy’s local expertise and experience and our offshore credentials provide a strong foundation for this project.

“We are looking forward to working closely with the local community to bring clean, sustainable energy to Australian homes and businesses.”

JERA Nex, with Parkwind at its core, brings extensive experience in offshore wind development and establishing supply chains in emerging markets.

The company manages seven wind farms globally, including in Belgium, Germany, the UK, Japan and Taiwan, and has a substantial pipeline of projects worldwide.

In July last year, JERA completed the acquisition of Parkwind from Virya Energy for €1.55bn ($1.66bn), following approval from regulatory bodies.

Parkwind, an offshore wind developer in Belgium, boasts a total capacity of 1.02GW.