Offshore wind news and events

October 2026 – Victorian Government

Gippsland transmission development partner selected

VicGrid announce global infrastructure company ACCIONA Energía (ACCIONA) as the preferred development partner for the Gippsland offshore wind 2 gigawatt (GW) transmission project.

August 2026 – Victorian Government

Australia’s first offshore wind auction opens

Australia’s first offshore wind auction is now open for projects off the Gippsland coast to bid for contracts to deliver Victoria’s first 2 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind energy generation – enough to power 1.5 million homes. Delivery of the first projects will lay the foundation for the growth of the sector throughout the 2030s.

May 2026 – Victorian Government

Investment in the Victorian Renewable Energy Terminal

The Victorian Budget 2026/27 invests $124.5 million to progress EES and procurement activities for the Victorian Renewable Energy Terminal at the Port of Hastings.

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 leading to 9 GW by 2040.

The 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.