Gippsland Dawn wind project offshore Australia gets government recognition

Australia’s government granted BlueFloat Energy’s Gippsland Dawn offshore wind project in Victoria "Major Project Status" on Nov. 6.

This signals recognition of the project’s national significance to Australia’s development of an offshore renewable energy industry. Gippsland Dawn still has to pass federal and state approval processes.

Earlier this year, the potential 2.1-GW project secured a feasibility license. Planning is underway on the process of installing the wind turbines and offshore substations in the Bass Strait, 10-33 km from the coast between Paradise Beach and Ocean Grange.

BlueFloat anticipates total capital investments of about $10 billion, and it is targeting a construction start in 2029 and first power by 2031. The estimated operational lifespan is more than 30 years.

A network of transmission cables and substations will connect the offshore wind farm to the electricity grid, with the onshore landing for the transmission cable to be determined as part of VicGrid’s connection hub area investigations.