Victoria Issues Offshore Wind Implementation Statement

March 16, 2023, by Adnan Durakovic

Victorian Energy and Resources Minister Lily D’Ambrosio has released the Victorian Offshore Wind Energy Implementation Statement 2 which sets out how this Australian State will leverage industry-led investment in offshore wind for the first tranche of projects that will deliver at least 2 GW by 2032.

The strategy confirms the location of the Victorian Renewable Energy Terminal at the Port of Hastings. The terminal will support wind construction delivery of up to 1 GW per year, process turbines up to 18 MW, and service multiple offshore wind developments concurrently, according to the Office of Daniel Andrews, the Premier of Victoria.

”Victoria is paving the way for Australia’s first offshore wind farms, and this latest implementation statement will give industry the guidance they need to kickstart our first projects,” Minister D’Ambrosio said.

”Offshore wind will create over 6,000 jobs, generate billions in investment and create cheaper, cleaner, more reliable power for all Victorians.”

The Victorian Renewable Energy Terminal will undergo an Environment Effects Statement (EES) allowing the community to make submissions which will be considered before the project is progressed.

Victoria’s Minister for Ports and Freight, Melissa Horne, said: ”We’re developing the specialised port infrastructure needed to secure Victoria’s place as the offshore wind hub of the nation and deliver secure on-going job opportunities in clean energy for the future.”

A Renewable Energy Supply Chain Hub will also be developed near offshore wind development areas. This infrastructure is expected to kickstart the establishment of new renewable energy supply chain opportunities across Victoria.

Offshore Wind Energy Victoria (OWEV) will engage further with local businesses seeking to participate in the offshore wind energy supply chain about how best to build competitive capability.

Work will also begin on a renewable energy workforce development plan that will identify what skills and training is needed to support the industry, with a specific focus on Gippsland.

The strategy also outlines that VicGrid will lead on the development of transmission infrastructure for offshore wind. It will consider a range of feasible options and is expected to announce the specific transmission connection point locations and route corridors in Gippsland and Portland by the end of the year.

This will ensure the timely delivery of transmission infrastructure to support offshore wind while minimising impacts on local communities, the environment and consumer costs.

OWEV is working towards a formal competitive procurement process for the first tranche of offshore wind energy capacity in 2025. Further information will be shared in Implementation Statement 3 in late 2023.

Victoria will be the home of Australia’s first offshore wind farms – a key part of achieving the State’s offshore wind targets of 4 GW by 2035 and 9 GW by 2040 – and help deliver an estimated 59,000 jobs.

The State’s government is also reviving the State Electricity Commission, bringing back government-owned renewable energy in an effort to deliver cheaper and cleaner power for Victorians.

The Bass Strait off Gippsland is home to several proposed offshore wind projects, including the 1.5 GW Seadragon being developed by Flotation Energy, the 1.3 GW Greater Gippsland project developed by BlueFloat Energy and Energy Estate, the 2.5 GW Great Eastern project developed by Corio Generation, and the 2 GW Star of the South, Australia’s first and most progressed offshore wind project and the first offshore wind project to receive Major Project Status from the Australian Government.