Victoria has been formally admitted to the Global Offshore Wind Alliance (GOWA) as its first sub-national.

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 Global Offshore Wind Alliance (GOWA). The Alliance’s mission is to achieve a total global offshore wind capacity of at least 380 GW by 2030, with 35 GW on average each year across the 2020s and a minimum of 70 GW 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, capable of fostering a prosperous emerging sector. This industry is projected to generate over 6,000 jobs and play a pivotal role in Victoria’s journey towards achieving 95 percent renewable energy production by 2035 and attaining net-zero emissions by 2045.

Victoria’s nation-leading targets of at least 2 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind capacity by 2032, 4GW by 2035 and 9GW by 2040 has attracted offshore wind investment from Australia and across the globe – and that’s why Victoria will lead the nation as the home of Australia’s first offshore wind generation industry.

Last year, the Commonwealth Government declared an area in Bass Strait off the Gippsland coast as Australia’s first offshore wind zone and is seeking feasibility licenses 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 1 GW per year, process turbines up to 18 megawatts and service multiple offshore wind developments concurrently.

The Labor 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. further information will be shared in Implementation Statement 3 in late 2023.

Quote attributable to Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio

“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.”