Star of the South - Offshore Wind Project
Project at a glance
VIC Australia
Feasibility
STAR OF THE SOUTH WIND FARM PTY LTD
Star of the South is Australia's most advanced offshore wind project, proposed to be located off the south coast of Gippsland in Victoria.
The project would provide large-scale, renewable electricity generation to support Victoria's energy transition, as well as local jobs and investment.
At up to 2.2 GW, it would be one of the largest offshore wind farms in the world, generating enough electricity to power up to 1.2 million homes and provide around 20 percent of Victoria's electricity needs.
The project would involve:
- Offshore wind turbines of around 15-18MW installed on monopile foundations
- Offshore transmission: array cables, export cables and substations
- Onshore transmission: Approximately 75km HVAC underground cables and substations
- Grid connection at Loy Yang and/or Hazelwood
- Potential upgrades to and use of ports to support construction and operation of the project.
The project is being progressed by a Victorian-based team with investment from Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, a world leader in offshore wind development, and Cbus Super.
More information: Star of the South Website
Timing
Star of the South is in the feasibility and development phase, undertaking site investigations to understand the local area and preparing environmental assessments to seek approvals.
A Commonwealth Exploration Licence was granted in March 2019 for exclusive offshore wind investigations within a 496 km area off the Gippsland coast. Investigations began in late 2019 and are ongoing.
The project's environmental effects will be assessed through a Commonwealth Environmental Impact Statement and Victorian Environment Effects Statement. A Commonwealth licence would also be needed to build and operate the project.
It typically takes around 6-10 years to develop an offshore wind project. If Star of the South is feasible and the necessary approvals are granted, construction could begin around the middle of the decade with full power towards the end of the decade.
The project's lifespan is anticipated to be around 30 years.
Potential opportunities
Offshore wind farms are a proven driver for jobs and contract opportunities and the Star of the South presents a unique opportunity to grow the next generation capability for the Victorian renewable sector.
Main contracts being procured directly by the Star of the South are expected to include:
- Offshore wind turbine generators
- Steel foundations
- High voltage submarine and terrestrial cable
- Medium voltage submarine cable
- Offshore substations
- Onshore substations
- Grid connection
- Transportation, installation / construction, commissioning of the above
- Balance of Plant Operations and maintenance requirements.
Contracts procured by Star of the South would generate significant downstream opportunities through the successful contractors. Local companies with relevant skills and capabilities in the broader supply chain are encouraged to register their interest.
Some examples of downstream opportunities may include:
- Plant hire
- Earthmoving services
- Quarry products
- Structural concrete
- Welfare facilities
- Steel fabrication
- Signage, marking and signwriting
- Waste management services
- Plumbing
- Security systems
- Generator sets
- Helicopters
- Drones
- Charter and coach services
- Wind turbine consumables
Star of the South is expected to create up to 2,000 direct jobs in Victoria, including around 760 Gippsland jobs during construction and 200 good quality, long-term jobs during operation.
Upcoming Events
Star of the South Industry Project Briefing
Click here to watch the Project Briefing recording.
Express your interest
Star of the South is committed to supporting Australian industry and will seek to fully harness local content delivery and industry development. Competent local businesses, including Traditional Owner businesses and those involved in industries undergoing transition in the Gippsland region, are encouraged to express their interest in the project.
Star of the South will use EOI information to:
- Provide to companies who bid for and/or win main contracts
- Build an understanding of market capabilities and capacity - what is available now, what potential exists and what appetite there is to deliver more
- Communicate project updates and opportunities
- Share useful resources, knowledge and experience from the global offshore wind industry
- Communicate project requirements and specifications as they become available.
Star of the South is conducting a market capability study to understand Gippsland's current and future capability to supply the offshore wind industry. As part of this study, local supply chain specialists from Spence Consulting Group will engage directly with interested businesses, including those currently servicing the coal and offshore oil and gas industries, to understand current capabilities and those with the potential to grow or transition into the offshore wind industry.
Visit Star of the South - Suppliers to find out more about the study.
Project Links
- Project website
- Information resource: UK Government Guide to an Offshore Wind Farm
HOW TO REGISTER AN EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI)
- To submit an initial EOI, companies must have an ICN Gateway company profile. Information on how to register your company on ICN Gateway is detailed below.
- This is an initial, generic EOI submission only. All companies who submit an EOI will be included in information presented to Star of the South.
- Star of the South will make direct contact with companies who submit an EOI and/or pass details onto its main contractor.
- As ICN Victoria becomes engaged on individual Work Packages for the Star of the South - Offshore Wind Farm Project, project specific EOIs may need to be submitted.
- The services, programmes and initiatives provided by ICN Victoria are aimed at complimenting a company's existing Sales, Marketing and Business Development strategy and any EOI submitted should not be considered as an alternative to these activities.
ICN GATEWAY COMPANY REGISTRATION
- Click here to register your company profile on ICN Gateway.
- Support and assistance is available through the web links listed below.
- An ICN Gateway company profile that accurately and effectively summarises your company is critical to using the services of the ICN Group - please ensure that your company invests the time and energy required to represent your company in the most effective manner possible.
- Companies should ensure that the email notification functionality within their ICN Gateway company profile is activated to include an appropriate level of coverage to ICN News and Updates, Major Projects and Regional Opportunities.
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