The government of Australia has approved a licence for technical and environmental studies for the up to 2GW Star of the South offshore wind farm off the coast of Victoria.
The developer – made up of Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and local investors – said the licence “paves the way for a range of studies to take place, including wind monitoring and investigations into the seabed and the marine environment”.
It added that detailed community and stakeholder consultation will be undertaken before any studies start.
The project could feature up to 250 turbines located some 25km off the coast of Gippsland.
Star of the South chief executive Andy Evans said: “We’re excited to start the next phase of our work – we’ve done a lot of background studies and look forward to getting out there and further understanding the marine environment.
“While it’s still early days for the project, these crucial investigations will help us move forward and understand how we might progress an offshore wind project in Australia.
“We look forward to working with government, stakeholders and local communities in Gippsland and the Latrobe Valley throughout our investigations.”