In line with Australia’s Rewiring the Nation Plan, which was announced last week, Star of the South has welcomed new commitments from the state and federal governments to expedite Victorian renewable zones and offshore wind.
The state government has since released an Offshore Wind Implementation Statement outlining the steps to establish a Victorian offshore wind industry, including creating a new government agency, Offshore Wind Energy Victoria, to streamline and drive a coordinated development of the sector.
Star of the South is Australia’s first offshore wind project, proposed to be located in the Bass Strait off the coast of Gippsland in Victoria; with a capacity of up to 2.2 GW, the project would power around 1.2 million homes and create up to 2000 Victorian jobs across its lifetime.
Since being awarded a Commonwealth exploration licence in 2019 to investigate the project’s feasibility, Star of the South has invested in more than two years of wind, seabed, environment and engineering studies, making it the most progressed project in Australia.
Star of the South chief executive, Charles Rattray, says offshore wind will revolutionise energy production in Victoria.
“Offshore wind will be a game-changer for Victoria – delivering significant energy and jobs in the right place and at the right time,” Mr Rattray said.
“The Offshore Wind Implementation Statement is a positive step toward the clear and certain path needed to attract the investment, supply chain and workforce needed for a successful offshore wind industry.
“As the first and most progressed project in Australia, we are in a strong position to support the government in achieving its ambitious offshore wind and decarbonisation goals”.
Star of the South is targeting first power from the project in 2028 to deliver electricity and jobs to coincide with the planned closure of the Latrobe Valley’s Yallourn power station.
