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What's on
VicGrid community drop-in sessions
OWEV is joining VicGrid at Seaspray and Woodside community drop-in sessions this January and February.
These sessions are an opportunity for community to meet VicGrid and OWEV staff to learn more about the offshore wind shoreline renewable energy zone, shoreline crossings and transmission development in Gippsland.
| Location | Date and time | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Seaspray | Saturday 17 January 2026, 10 am – 1 pm | Seaspray Hall, Futcher Street, Seaspray |
| Saturday 7 February 2026, 10 am – 1 pm | ||
| Woodside | Saturday 31 January 2026, 10 am – 1 pm | Woodside Community Hall, 34 Prince Street, Woodside |
Gippsland offshore wind days
OWEV, along with offshore wind developers, VicGrid and representatives from the Australian Government, will be at Lakes Entrance and Longford markets in February to meet with the community and answer questions on offshore wind development in Gippsland.
| Location | Date and time | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Lakes Entrance | Sunday 1 February 2026, 9 am – 3 pm |
Lakes Entrance Foreshore Market, beside the rotunda, Lakes Entrance Foreshore |
| Longford | Sunday 8 February 2026, 3–7 pm |
Longford Community Market, Longford Recreation Reserve, Longford‑Loch Sport Rd, Longford |
Feasibility licence holder events and activities
In Gippsland, feasibility licence holders are conducting studies in their designated areas to assess environmental and seabed conditions for their proposed projects.
Visit the project websites available at our Victoria's offshore wind farm locations page to learn more about the latest activities and events.
In the Southern Ocean region, Alinta Energy was awarded a feasibility licence in February 2025 for its Spinifex project. Visit the project website to learn more.
What's happened so far
January 2026 – Victorian Government
Victoria’s first offshore wind auction timing announced
The Victorian Government announces the Request for Proposal (RFP) for Victoria’s first offshore wind auction is expected to open in August 2026. The auction will seek up to 2 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind capacity – enough electricity to power around 1.5 million homes.
January 2026 – Victorian Government
Final Scoping Requirements for the Victorian Renewable Energy Terminal published
The Scoping Requirements set out the proposed specific matters to be investigated and documented in the Environment Effects Statement (EES) for the Victorian Renewable Energy Terminal.
December 2025 - Australian Government
Energy Ministers agree on reforms
Reforms agreed by Energy Ministers across the eastern seaboard (excluding Queensland) and the Commonwealth included in-principal approval of the National Electricity Market’s (NEM) Electricity Services Entry Mechanism (ESEM).
The ESEM is designed to support new energy generation needed to replace retiring coal-fired power and maintain system reliability such as offshore wind.
November 2025 – Victorian Government
Proposed shoreline crossing consultation
VicGrid commences consultation on four proposed shoreline crossings as part of the Draft Gippsland Shoreline Renewable Energy Zone.
October 2025 - Victorian Government
Tender for transmission infrastructure opens
VicGrid announces three consortia selected to tender for the transmission infrastructure needed to connect offshore wind projects to Victoria’s main electricity grid.
September 2025 - Victorian Government
Victorian Transmission Plan released
VicGrid releases the Victorian Transmission Plan, setting out how the electricity grid will be upgraded to support renewable energy. This includes the proposed Gippsland Shoreline Renewable Energy Zone.
September 2025 - Victorian Government
Amended offshore wind auction timing
The Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources announces the government will defer the anticipated September RFP commencement and will provide amended auction timing to give proponents additional time to undertake important feasibility studies prior to bidding into the auction, provide greater certainty over project costs and revenue and strengthen deliverability.
August 2025 - Australian Government
New decision for the Port of Hastings
The Australian Government makes a controlled action decision under national environment laws for the Port of Hastings, allowing further assessment of the proposed Victorian Renewable Energy Terminal.
The Port of Hastings is the Victorian Government’s preferred assembly port to support offshore wind.
June 2025 – Victorian Government
Port of Hastings Corporation submit new Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC) referral for the Victorian Renewable Energy Terminal
The new EPBC referral to the Australian Government follows more than 18 months of detailed technical studies, preliminary impact assessments, and significant design refinements, including a 70% reduction to the dredging footprint.
April 2025 - Victorian Government
Offshore Wind Energy Implementation Statement 4 released
Implementation Statement 4 provides updates on Victoria’s offshore wind development including the announcement of a Registration of Interest to support future industry activity for offshore wind.
February 2025 - Australian Government
First feasibility licence in the Southern Ocean
The Australian Government awards one feasibility licence in the Southern Ocean declared area.
December 2024 - Victorian Government
Draft Victorian Offshore Windfarm Feasibility Access Licence for Gippsland released
A draft Victorian Offshore Windfarm Feasibility Access Licence is released for the Gippsland region. The licence sets out how offshore wind developers can access public land to carry out feasibility studies while protecting community and environmental values.
July 2024 - Australian Government
Offshore wind feasibility licences awarded in Gippsland
Following a competitive process with 37 applications, the Australian Government awards 12 feasibility licences for potential offshore wind projects in the Gippsland declared area. These licences allow developers to investigate whether projects are viable.
July 2024 - Victorian Government
Public consultation on draft Victorian Transmission Plan Guidelines and renewable energy zone study area opens.
VicGrid seeks public feedback on the draft VTP Guidelines and preliminary feedback on the study area. The Victorian Transmission Plan Guidelines outline the methodology VicGrid will use to develop the 2025 Victorian Transmission Plan. The guidelines include a map that shows the parts of Victoria being further investigated for potential future renewable energy and transmission development
May 2024 - Victorian Government
Offshore wind targets legislated
Victoria legislates offshore wind generation targets of at least:
- 2 GW by 2032
- 4 GW by 2035
- 9 GW by 2040
These targets provide long-term certainty for industry and Victoria’s energy future.
May 2024 - Victorian Government
Victorian Parliament passes new offshore wind planning legislation
The Energy and Public Land Legislation Amendment (Enabling Offshore Wind Energy) Act 2024 is passed, allowing offshore wind developers to carry out site investigations on Victorian public land – onshore and offshore – to help plan electricity transmission locations and infrastructure.
March 2024 - Australian Government
Southern Ocean offshore wind area declared
The Australian Government declares an offshore wind area in the Southern Ocean, covering 1,030 square kilometres offshore from Warrnambool and Port Fairy.
January 2024 – Australian Government
Decision on Victorian Renewable Energy Terminal
Submission from Port of Hastings Corporation for Victorian Renewable Energy Terminal rejected by Australian Government. Port of Hastings is reworking its submission to mitigate environmental concerns.
December 2023 - Victorian Government
Offshore Wind Energy Implementation Statement 3 released
Implementation Statement 3 outlines Victoria’s progress in leading the development of offshore wind in Australia.
August 2023 - Victorian Government
Victoria joins the Global Offshore Wind Alliance
Victoria becomes the first state or region in the world to join the Global Offshore Wind Alliance, strengthening international collaboration and knowledge sharing.
June 2023 – Australian Government
Southern Ocean proposed offshore wind area announced
The Australian Government identifies a proposed area in the Southern Ocean, from Warrnambool in Victoria to Port MacDonnell in South Australia, as suitable for offshore wind development. Public consultation on the proposed Southern Ocean area begins.
March 2023 - Victorian Government
Offshore Wind Energy Implementation Statement 2 released
Implementation Statement 2 introduces plans for the Victorian Renewable Energy Terminal at the Port of Hastings to support offshore wind infrastructure assembly.
January 2023 – Australian Government
Feasibility application for Gippsland area open
The Australian Government opens its feasibility licence application process for the Gippsland declared area.
December 2022 - Victorian Government
Offshore Wind Energy Victoria established
Offshore Wind Energy Victoria (OWEV) is established to coordinate the development of Victoria’s offshore wind industry.
December 2022 - Australian Government
Gippsland offshore wind area declared
The Australian Government declares an offshore wind area off the coast of Gippsland, in Bass Strait, covering around 15,000 square kilometres in Commonwealth waters.
October 2022 - Victorian Government
Offshore Wind Energy Implementation Statement 1 released
Victoria’s first offshore wind energy implementation statement is released to guide industry, stakeholders and the community on how offshore wind is being developed in Victoria.
August 2022 – Australian Government
Proposed Gippsland offshore wind zone announcement
The Australian Government identifies a proposed area in Bass Strait off Gippsland for offshore wind development. The proposed area, extending from Lakes Entrance to west of Wilsons Promontory, is the first of six priority areas for offshore wind in Australia to be proposed.
Public consultation on the proposed Gippsland area begins.
March 2022 - Victorian Government
Commitment to offshore wind targets
The Victorian Government commits to setting Victoria’s first offshore wind generation targets, marking the starting point for the industry.
Page last updated: 08/04/26