The Australian government has granted six feasibility licences to develop offshore wind projects off the coast of Gippsland, Victoria.
A further six licences are now being assessed, subject to First Nations consultation.
The feasibility licence applications were assessed through a competitive process based on merit criteria outlined in the Australian Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Act and supporting regulations.
The government has granted a licence for Orsted’s first project and intends to grant a licence for a second scheme, subject to First Nations consultation.
The licences provide Orsted with site exclusivity to develop the two offshore wind areas.
Orsted estimates the cluster has the potential to generate a combined 4.8GW of renewable energy.
Orsted’s far-shore project sites are located 50km-100km off the coast of Gippsland, Victoria.
They are situated beyond the visible eyeline from the shore and benefit from excellent wind conditions, the Danish developer said.
This next steps for the projects include site investigations, environmental assessments, and supply chain development.
Orsted will now progress the schemes with a view to bid in future auctions run by the Victorian government, supporting the state’s target of 9GW offshore wind by 2040.
Subject to these steps and a final investment decision, the projects are expected to be completed in phases from the early 2030s, with the aim to maximise dual site synergies through shared resources and economies of scale, Orsted said.
Mainstream Renewable Power, Reventus Power, AGL Energy and DIRECT Infrastructure JV Gippsland Skies Offshore Wind has been granted a feasibility licence for a fixed bottom 2.5GW offshore wind farm off the Gippsland region of Victoria.
With a feasibility licence secured, a series of detailed studies and multi-year offshore and onshore environmental surveys will commence, subject to approval processes, alongside consultation with First Nations peoples and community stakeholders, Mainstream said.
The first phase of the project is expected to be operational in 2032, contributing significantly to the Victorian government’s offshore wind targets of at least 2GW by 2032 and 4GW by 2035.
Meanwhile, Southerly Ten a specialist offshore wind developer unveiled by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), has secured a licence for its 2.2GW Star of the South project within a 586 square kilometre area located at least 10km off the Gippsland coast, between Port Albert and Woodside Beach.
It’s 2.2GW Kut-Wut Brataualung project within a 689 square kilometre area located 45km from the southern-most tip of Wilsons Promontory, it also up for a licence, subject to First Nations consultation.
Also receiving preliminary approval is Iberdrola’s Aurora Green site off the coast of Gippsland, Victoria, subject to First Nations consultation.
The Aurora Green offshore wind site has been under analysis for almost three years and can host up to 3GW of offshore capacity, with all turbines located in excess of 25km from the Gippsland coastline, Iberdrola said.