The Australian state of Victoria plans to have 9GW of offshore wind capacity installed of its coast by 2040.
The state’s Labor Government today published the ‘Victorian Offshore Wind Policy Directions Paper’, which also set interim targets of 2GW by 2032 and 4GW by 2035.
It said first power from offshore wind is expected as soon as 2028 following a competitive process.
The government also said that studies show the state has the potential to support 13GW by 2050, which would generate 6100 jobs in the development and construction phase and in ongoing operational jobs.
In November last year, Victoria pledged approximately A$40m (€27m) under the Energy Innovation Fund to fund feasibility studies and pre-construction development for three major offshore wind proposals by Star of the South, Macquarie Group and Flotation Energy.
Together, the three projects could generate 4.7GW of new capacity.
The government said it will now undertake an extensive consultation process to ensure that Traditional Owners, local communities and the industry collaborate on the design of the offshore wind programme.
Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews (pictured) said: “Today, Victoria has the lowest power prices in five years and the greatest annual increase in renewable energy of any state, ever. It’s clear that when it comes to wholesale energy reform, the states are leading the way.
“We’re not just talking about transitioning to clean energy, we’re actually delivering it – along with thousands of jobs in one of the world’s fastest growing industries and cheaper bills for millions of households.”
Victoria Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio said: “Victoria’s offshore wind resources are officially open for business, but the real work starts now.
“We know it will take years to plan and develop the first tranche of wind projects in Australia, due to their complexity, scale, regulatory and infrastructure requirements – and we’re ready to start that journey today.”