The following is attributable to Clean Energy Council General Manager - Offshore Wind, Morgan Rossiter:
“While today's announcement by the Victorian Government to delay the Victorian offshore wind procurement process is disappointing, we appreciate this will provide more time to ensure the first auction is well-placed to succeed, ultimately seeing the offshore wind sector supporting local regional development for communities in the Latrobe Valley - home to the Gippsland offshore wind zone.
“Victoria is home to Australia’s best offshore wind resource, making this technology an obvious choice for delivering gigawatt-scale capacity to replace Victoria’s retiring coal plants over the coming decade.
“Today’s decision reflects the Victorian Government’s commitment to ensuring the auction design process is fit-for-purpose, giving developers more time for projects to advance their business cases, so that we can establish an industry for local workers to turn to when coal exits the system.
“These projects are large and complex, and like any new industry, require support to establish and mature. For the 11 feasibility licence holders in the Gippsland area, awarding offtake contracts for the first 2 GW is critical to providing revenue certainty.
"The Gippsland offshore wind area off the cost of Victoria is capable of generating enough energy during peak summer periods, to reduce the need to draw on gas peaking plants or see large industrial sites turn off on hot summer days when energy demand rises.
Today’s decision reflects the Victorian Government’s commitment to ensuring the auction design process is fit-for-purpose, giving developers more time for projects to advance their business cases, so that we can establish an industry for local workers to turn to when coal exits the system.Morgan Rossiter Clean Energy Council General Manager - Offshore Wind
“The Clean Energy Council remains committed to the sector and the Victorian Government’s support to achieve its targets.”
The Victorian Government has set a target of delivering 2 GW by 2032, 4 GW by 2035 and 9 GW of offshore wind by 2040.
“We support the Commonwealth Government’s announcement today that it will provide temporary financial relief to the sector over the next two years, including the decision to waive annual fees for feasibility licences and research and demonstration licences, and a 50 per cent reduction of application fees. We welcome further Commonwealth support to enable this critical national industry that will support future opportunities for the Gippsland region.
The Clean Energy Council remains committed to the sector and the Victorian Government’s support to achieve its targets.Morgan Rossiter Clean Energy Council General Manager - Offshore Wind
“There are currently 12 projects with offshore wind feasibility licences in Australia, and three more which the Commonwealth has preliminarily awarded feasibility licences to. The economic opportunity for the regions is immense, with a scaled offshore wind industry set to boost Australia’s gross domestic product by $15.2 billion out to 2050 and attract $100 billion in capital investment to Australia.
“We need all Governments, both State and Federal, to lean in, co-invest and provide investors long-term certainty to help kickstart this vital industry. Doing so will ensure we can seize this opportunity to create thousands of jobs in coastal and regional communities where coal is set to retire over the coming decade.”
ENDS
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Liam Straughan
Clean Energy Council Media Officer
+61 409 470 683
Latest news
.jpg)
Rooftop solar and storage report - January to June 2025
Australia powers ahead on rooftop solar as nation set to achieve 2030 rooftop target - new report
National Climate Risk Assessment underscores need for net zero - clean energy critical to response
Marinus Link makes a splash with funding secured to tap into Tasmanian hydro powerhouse
Op-ed: Solar and wind can work for farmers
