The Minister for Climate Change and Energy declared the area off Gippsland, Victoria, as suitable for offshore renewable energy on 19 December 2022. Photo: Simonkr.
Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen has confirmed the issuing of 12 feasibility licences for the Gippsland Offshore Wind Zone, as the nearby Port of Hastings welcomes a new CEO.
The announcement made on social media declared the projects will be “enough to generate 25 GW – more electricity than the entire state of Victoria generated last year”. In May, the Commonwealth Government spoke of its intention to grant these licences but said they were pending consultation with traditional owners.
Feasibility licence holders are also expected to engage and involve First Nations groups, along with existing marine users and the wider community wherever possible in the design of their projects. Construction can only begin after the feasibility stage is completed and developers have gained all environmental and management plan approvals from the Offshore Infrastructure Regulator.
The declared area off Gippsland covers about 15,000 square kilometres. Photo: Commonwealth Government.
Project Director Darragh White from one of the organisations granted a licence, Gippsland Dawn, welcomed the announcement and believes their project could be operational by 2031.
“The feasibility licence will enable investigation work, including offshore metocean, geophysical and geotechnical investigations,” said Mr White. “Detailed technical studies and surveys will be completed.”
Supporting the construction of Victoria’s first offshore wind farms will be the Port of Hastings’ new CEO, Matt Thorpe.
Mr Thorpe was most recently the executive director at the Level Crossing Removal Project (LXRP). He also brings over 30 years of experience in leading teams through the design, construction and operation of major public infrastructure projects.
The new CEO is expected to facilitate the development of the Victorian Renewable Energy Terminal, which the State Government chose to be established in the Port of Hastings last year. As an assembly port, it will assist the construction of the offshore wind farms and serve as a hub for components to be transported for installation.
However, concerns remain after the Commonwealth rejected the Victorian Government’s proposal for the terminal’s location, on the grounds it would harm nearby wetlands and marine wildlife. In spite of this, Premier Jacinta Allan said she was confident her government would get the approval and it was reviewing the decision.
Out of the 37 applications received, the 12 to have succeeded in the feasibility licence application process 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 (SOTS)
- 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, and
- Great Eastern Offshore Wind Farm Project Co Pty Ltd.
Following consultation with local communities, First Nations people, existing industries and all levels of government, Minister Bowen decided to declare a smaller area than what had originally been proposed.
Now the offshore wind zone avoids the environmentally significant area west of Wilsons Promontory.
According to the Department of Climate Change and Energy, this was a precautionary measure for the migration path of whales and the orange-bellied parrot.
