The Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy awarded Gippsland Skies Offshore Wind, a consortium comprising Mainstream Renewable Power, Reventus Power, AGL Energy, and DIRECT Infrastructure, a feasibility licence for a fixed-bottom 2.5 GW offshore wind project in the Gippsland region of Victoria.
The project promises to be one of Australia’s first offshore wind projects to go into commercial operation.
The consortium intends to undertake comprehensive studies and multi-year environmental surveys, pending approval processes, while engaging in consultations with First Nations peoples and community stakeholders.
The first phase of the project aims to be operational by 2032, playing a significant role in meeting Victoria’s offshore wind targets of at least 2 GW by 2032 and 4 GW by 2035.
Upon reaching full operation, the project has the potential to supply electricity to around 1.4 million Victorian homes, representing approximately 17 percent of the state’s 2023 electricity demand.
Gippsland Skies could inject $3.7 billion into the economy and create 4,700 direct jobs in Australia over the estimated 40-year project lifespan, with approximately 2,000 of those jobs located in the Gippsland
Mary Quaney, CEO of Mainstream Renewable Power Group, welcomed the inclusion of offshore wind in its Australian portfolio, underlining Mainstream’s global leadership in offshore wind.
Mark Hanafin, Chair of Reventus Power, underscored the consortium’s commitment to advancing industry development and providing cleaner energy and job opportunities for Victoria.
Markus Brokhof, COO at AGL, stressed that Gippsland Skies plays a pivotal role in AGL’s goal to incorporate 12 GW of additional renewable and firming capacity by the end of 2035, aligning with the transition of AGL’s Loy Yang Power Station into the Latrobe Valley Energy Hub.
Peter Coleman, Chair of DIRECT Infrastructure, emphasized the project’s emphasis on developing regional and national supply chains and workforce.
The project will adhere to core values of safety, respect, integrity, innovation, and sustainability in its engagement. Gippsland Skies is co-owned by Mainstream Renewable Power (35 percent), Reventus Power (35 percent), AGL (20 percent), and DIRECT Infrastructure (10 percent).
Multiple anticipated benefits for this project
Associate Professor Behrooz Bahrani, Director of the Grid Innovation Hub in the Faculty of Engineering at Monash University, declared, “As an expert in electrical engineering with a focus on renewable energy integration, I strongly endorse the government’s announcement regarding the expansion of Australia’s offshore wind sector.”
“Offshore wind projects like those in Gippsland do more than just generate energy; they mark a significant milestone in our energy transition, offering a more consistent power source compared to other forms of renewable energy.
Bahrani highlighted that through the utilization of advanced technologies such as grid-forming inverters, these projects improve grid stability, facilitate the integration of renewable sources, and guarantee a dependable power supply for Australia’s future, thereby making substantial contributions to regional economic growth, job creation, and technological advancement.