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Wind is at the heart of the Australia’s energy future. Wind along with solar have been the main drivers in Australia’s renewable energy generation doubling over the past decade.

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Australia’s total installed onshore wind capacity is more than 9.1 GW. In 2021, 1.7GW of new capacity was added – the sector’s third record-breaking year in a row (Clean Energy Council. Clean Energy Australia Report 2022). The offshore wind sector is powering ahead after a new legal framework unlocked development. The Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Act was passed in June 2022.

The Australian Government strongly supports the growth of wind energy to help transform our electricity network and meet our net zero commitments.

Are you looking to invest in Australia’s offshore or onshore wind industry? We offer:

  • Some of the world’s best wind resources. Wind speeds reach 12 metres per second in offshore areas like Bass Strait in Australia’s southeast. Good wind resources extend hundreds of kilometres inland. (Source: Geoscience Australia)
  • A vast 60,000 kms coastline. It provides plentiful areas to site fixed or floating offshore wind facilities. Up to six wind resource sites have been designated. Each is close to energy demand sites.
  • Long term market demand. An estimated nine times the utility scale solar and wind generating capacity needed by 2050 (Source: 2022 Integrated System Plan for the National Electricity Market. Australian Energy Market Operator)
  • Existing capabilities. Experience in large-scale projects developed through the oil and gas sector. A strong and growing network of developers, technical specialists and advisory firms focused on wind.
  • Highly supportive government policy and funding.
15% growth

Wind generation grew an average 15 per cent per year the past decade

Source:
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (2022) Australian Energy Statistics 2021 data.

Future-facing governments

The Australian and state governments are highly supportive of wind power and are working together to grow the sector.

Infrastructure support

The National Energy Transformation Partnership is a framework for national alignment and cooperative action by governments to deliver market reforms and support investments in the grid.

Some Australian states are developing renewable energy zones (REZ), where clusters of projects can be developed to create economies of scale. These ensure locations with the greatest potential for clean energy generation have the infrastructure to store and transport it. These include onshore and offshore areas.

  • Upgrades to the transmission network will help the zones plug into the electricity grid. The Australian Government’s Rewiring the Nation scheme will provide A$20 billion in low-cost finance to expand and modernise Australia’s electricity grids to support more renewable power.
  • The first REZ to be declared in Australia, in the Central-West Orana region of New South Wales, is in the development phase and has enormous potential for solar and wind projects.
  • State Governments are exploring and developing other zones including elsewhere in NSW, in Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania.
  • The Australian and Victoria Governments are fast-tracking Victorian REZs and offshore wind development. An agreement in October 2022 provides concessional financing through Rewiring the Nation of A$1.5 billion for REZ projects in Victoria, including offshore wind projects, and $750 million for the Victoria-New South Wales Interconnector (VNI West) KerangLink to ensure it is completed by 2028.
  • The Australian and NSW Governments in December 2022 announced they would establish eight critical transmission and REZ projects in the state, thanks to A$4.7 billion Rewiring the Nation funding and $3.1 billion from the NSW Transmission Acceleration Facility.

Unlocking offshore wind

  • The Australian Government is rapidly progressing the development of an offshore renewable energy industry. Laws that set up a licensing regime and paved the way for offshore wind projects came into effect in June 2022.
  • Australia formally declared its first offshore wind zone – Bass Strait off Gippsland – in December 2022. It covers about 15,000 square kilometres off the south coast of Australia. It has potential to support more than 10GW of year-round wind energy generation.
  • Five further regions with world-class offshore wind energy potential have been identified. These strategic locations include sites with existing energy generation facilities and industrial hubs with strong connections to existing transmission networks, near major export ports.
  • There are at least 12 offshore wind farms currently in early planning stages (Clean Energy Council. Clean Energy Australia Report 2022).

“Unlocking the offshore wind industry is an exciting new chapter for Australia”

Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen in 2022.

Fast facts

  • Wind generation grew 20% in 20-2021. It grew an average of 15% per year over the past decade (Source: Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (2022) Australian Energy Statistics).
  • Wind accounted for 10 per cent of Australia’s total energy generation in 2021 and more than one-third of renewable energy generated (Source: Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (2022) Australian Energy Statistics).
  • Australia has 9126 MW of wind generation capacity, all onshore (Clean Energy Council. Clean Energy Report 2022).
  • Eight new wind farms were commissioned around Australia in 2021, representing 1746 MW of new capacity. This includes Australia’s largest, the 453 MW Coopers Gap Wind Farm in Queensland (Clean Energy Council. Clean Energy Report 2022).
  • Nineteen new wind farms are under construction or financially committed, as at end 2021. This includes the Stockyard Hill Wind Farm in Victoria, which at 532 MW will be Australia’s largest when completed  (Clean Energy Council. Clean Energy Report 2022).

Incentives, grants, and support

  • Rewiring the Nation provides A$20 billion in low-cost finance to upgrade Australia’s electricity grids. The plan will see the portion of renewable energy in our National Electricity Market increase to 82 per cent by 2030.
  • Up to A$3 billion from the National Reconstruction Fund will support renewables manufacturing and the deployment of low-emissions technologies, including clean energy component manufacturing.
  • The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) provides grants for R&D and early-stage commercialisation of low emissions technology and renewable energy projects. This includes demonstrator projects. For example:
  • The Clean Energy Finance Corporation supports energy efficiency, renewable energy and low emissions technology projects through loans and equity investments. This includes the new A$500m Powering Australia Technology Fund focussed on businesses commercialisation.
  • The Australian Tax Office’s New Investment Engagement Service gives tailored guidance on tax issues to businesses planning significant new investments in Australia.

Find out more about our thriving clean energy innovation system on our transition to net zero page.

Success Stories

  • Italian renewable energy company Enel Green Power (EGP) began operating in Australia in 2019 and has three solar plants. In April 2022, it signed an agreement with BHP to purchase the 76 MW output of the 18 turbine Flat Rocks Wind Farm Stage One project in Western Australia.
  • Australia’s growing offshore wind sector is attracting investment from Spanish energy giants such as BlueFloat Energy, Iberdrola and GPG.
    • Iberdrola completed the assembly of its first solar-wind hybrid plant at the Port Augusta complex in South Australia in 2021. It combines a 210MW wind farm and a 107 MW photovoltaic solar plant. The company has committed to investing €3 billion into developing Australia’s renewable energy sector. 
    • Naturgy group company Global Power Generation aims to reach an installed capacity of 2.2 GW by 2025 in Australia. It has committed two billion euros focused on the development of wind farms, photovoltaic power plants and storage systems. The group currently operates the Crookwell II and Berrybank I wind farms and has a portfolio of other projects under development and construction in Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia.
    • Spain’s BlueFloat Energy and Australia’s Energy Estate have announced four offshore wind projects with a total capacity of over 6GW, in December 2021 and June 2022. “Australia offers a combination of world-class wind resources, a desire to transition from fossil fuels, and suitable maritime conditions. These provide an ideal platform for large-scale energy infrastructure projects built close to load sources.” Says Carlos Martin, CEO of BlueFloat Energy.

Success stories

Enel Green Power Bungala solar project

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