Victoria has formally joined the Global Offshore Wind Alliance (GOWA), as its first sub-national member, with the mission of establishing 380GW of offshore wind generation globally by 2030.
GOWA brings together international governments, the private sector, organisations, and other stakeholders to accelerate the deployment of offshore wind power.
Victoria has joined countries like Denmark, Spain, Germany, and the United Kingdom in the GOWA. The Alliance’s mission is to achieve a total global offshore wind capacity of at least 380GW by 2030, with 35GW on average each year across the 2020s and a minimum of 70GW each year from 2030.
Australia represents the second-biggest offshore wind pipeline in the Asia-Pacific region, behind China.
The winds along Victoria’s coast are among the world’s best. This industry is projected to generate more than 6,000 jobs and play a pivotal role in Victoria’s journey towards achieving 95 per cent renewable energy production by 2035 and attaining net zero emissions by 2045.
Victoria’s nation-leading targets of at least 2GW of offshore wind capacity by 2032, 4GW by 2035 and 9GW by 2040 has attracted offshore wind investment from Australia and across the globe.
In 2022, the Federal Government declared an area in Bass Strait off the Gippsland coast as Australia’s first offshore wind zone and is seeking feasibility licences for potential developers. The successful applicants are expected to be announced later this year.
Victoria has many competitive advantages that will support the growth of offshore wind including a highly skilled workforce, advanced manufacturing, established supply chains, and world class infrastructure like ports.
The Victorian Budget 2023–24 invested $27 million to progress development on the Victorian Renewable Energy Terminal at the Port of Hastings. The terminal will support wind construction delivery of up to 1GW per year, process turbines up to 18MW and service multiple offshore wind developments concurrently.
The Victorian Government also established Offshore Wind Energy Victoria, which is working towards a formal competitive procurement process for the first tranche of offshore wind energy capacity in 2025.
Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources, Lily D’Ambrosio, said, “Victoria’s successful application to join the Global Offshore Wind Alliance solidifies our abundant offshore wind resources as among the best internationally, with our ambitious targets attracting major investment, jobs and solidifying Victoria’s future as Australia’s offshore wind capital.”