** This article will be updated as new developments occur. This was last updated in October 2025 **
Over the last year, announcements have periodically come out from the Federal Government about a new area of the sea ripe for development or having been approved as being ripe for development. Or indeed a consultation to test and judge that all important ripeness.
But precious little's happening in the water itself, which begs the question - in this complicated regulatory, governmental and industry eco-system - where is Australia's offshore wind sector?
The background
Be under no illusion, it's still a good few years until any wind turbines will be installed in Australian waters, but that's not to say nothing is happening.
The government – understandably – has taken a pragmatic and measured approach to the development of this newly emerging energy sector, but that of course means time. And of course according to the climate experts, that's a luxury Australia and indeed the world can ill afford.
In 2021 the Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Act established the overall licensing scheme to enable the sector's construction, operation and (notably) decommissioning.
Under the Act's framework, there are three central tenets:
- the Minister for Energy makes all the licensing decisions, including declaring suitable areas both at a commercial scale and for research and development of new and emerging technologies.
- the Offshore Infrastructure Registrar (a function of the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Agency, NOPTA) is responsible for administering the licensing scheme, including assessing licence applications and making recommendations to the minister.
- prior to starting any offshore infrastructure work, a licence holder is must have its management plan (containing details about the operational aspects of a project) approved by the Offshore Infrastructure Regulator (the OIR, a function of the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Agency (NOPSEMA)).
In simple terms, the federal government will suggest a potential area of the sea for wind power usage, a consultation will be carried and feedback obtained. Based on this, the energy minister may declare that sea area as suitable for development and will invite applications for a feasibility license from industry. .
After due consideration, a feasibility license may be granted to one or more proponents who then have up to seven years to investigate the area and development their plans.
After this, a license holder wishing to proceed to commericalisation must have their comprehensive management plans approved by the OIR.
Once done, a 40 year commercial license can be granted and the license holder can start construction.
Are you keeping up at the back?
Support from the corridors of power
Energy minister Chris Bowen is clearly a fan (no pun intended).
When he announced the six regions for consideration in 2022 he said: "The world's climate emergency is Australia's regional jobs opportunity and offshore wind is just one example.
"Unlocking the offshore wind industry is an exciting new chapter for Australia and we want to build a platform of community collaboration and support around it.
"We have some of the best wind resources in the world - just one rotation of one offshore wind turbine provides as much energy as an average rooftop solar installation generates in one day.
"This new industry will provide opportunities to reduce emissions and fast track job and economic development opportunities for regional Australia particularly in clean energy generation and manufacturing.
"Many other countries have been successfully harvesting offshore wind energy for years, and now is the time for Australia to start the journey to firmly establish this reliable and significant form of renewable energy."
Unlocking the offshore wind industry is an exciting new chapter for Australia and we want to build a platform of community collaboration and support around it.
However, the leader of the opposition Peter Dutton has said that if the Liberals were to be elected in the forth-coming federal election, he would cancel at least three of the wind zones.
How long until Australia starts to harness its wind?
In August 2022 the energy minister formally identified six priority areas in Australia for offshore wind. Since then, all six have been formally declared, with the last - the Bass Strait zone off the Tasmanian coast - declared in December 2024.
You can see an interactive version of Australia's offshore wind zones here.
Gippsland
More than 35 applications were submitted for a feasibility license off the Gippsland coast. After a consultation period, these projects received feasibility licenses:
- High Sea Wind Pty Ltd - Management accepted by OIR, survey plans being assessed by DCCEEW
- Gippsland Skies Pty Ltd - feasibility studies discontinued in Dec 2025
- Blue Mackerel North Pty Ltd - Management plan accepted by OIR
- Kut-Wut Brataualung Pty Ltd
- Ørsted Offshore Australia 1 Pty Ltd (Gippsland 01) - Management plan accepted by OIR
- Star of the South Wind Farm Pty Ltd (SOTS) - full environment plan being assessed by DCCEEW
- Iberdrola Australia OW 2 Pty Ltd (Aurora Green) - Management plan accepted by OIR, full environment plan being assessed by DCCEEW
- Greater Gippsland 2 OWP Project Pty Ltd (Gippsland Dawn) - feasibility license surrendered back to DCCEEW and project dropped
- Navigator North Project Pty Ltd - project was "put on ice" in September 2025
- Ørsted Offshore Australia 1 Pty Ltd (Gippsland 02) - Management plan accepted by OIR
- Kent offshore wind project - feasibility license surrendered back to DCCEEW and project dropped
- Great Eastern Offshore Wind Farm Project Co Pty Ltd - full environment plan assessed by DCCEEW and deemed to be a controlled action.
Hunter
Feasibility licence applications were accepted for proposed projects within Hunter declared area from 8 August 2023 to 14 November 2023.
A total of eight applications were received for feasibility licences, with only Novocastrian Wind Pty Ltd being offered a feasibility license. However, in August 2025 the proponents of the project withdrew their plans.
Southern Ocean
The Australian Government has offered a feasibility licence to the Spinifex Offshore Wind Farm for its proposed offshore wind project in the Southern Ocean off the Victorian coast.
Illawara
BlueFloat Energy, the only firm expressing any desire to develop the Illawarra zone, has formally asked the government to "consider not offering any licences in the Illawarra zone until after the upcoming federal election."
Indian Ocean
In August 2025 three offshore wind projects were awarded preliminary feasibility licenses.
It had been previously announced that two projects based in the southern area of the 3,995 km² zone - Westward Wind and Bunbury Offshore Wind South – had been shortlisted to receive a license - but each needed to resolve an overlap in their planning.
Once that obstacle was overcome, both were given a preliminary license, in addition to a third going to Bunbury Offshore Wind Farm for another project planned for the northern area of the zone.
If so slow, why bother?
As the world moves towards more sustainable and renewable energy sources, many experts and indeed the Australian government see offshore wind as a promising solution.
Undoubtedly offshore wind power can contribute to reliable, high-capacity energy, and be part of the mix to help Australia reach its target of net zero emissions by 2050.
A single offshore wind turbine can provide up to 66 gigawatt hours of energy per year, enough to power 10,000 Australian households for a whole year. At best, a single turbine rotation, could power a typical home for 24 hours.
Research and development
In August 2025 the government pivoted in the face of the somewhat slow progress in the sector and released new guidance to help developers, researchers, scientists and other interested parties apply for Research and Demonstration licences in declared offshore zones.
It is intended that these licences will allow development and testing of offshore renewable energy technology, ensuring Australia is a home for renewable investment, innovation and development.
Research and Demonstration licences are proposed to last for 10 years and will be available across all six declared areas. Applications will be assessed for their appropriateness and projects will require community consultation.
At the time of the announcement the climate change and energy minister Chris Bowen said researching and developing offshore energy technology would help harness Australia's renewable energy resources.
"These Research and Demonstration licences are a big green light to domestic and international investors, signalling that Australia wants to be home to the next technological advance when it comes to offshore renewable development.
"Our first priority for Australia's offshore renewables areas is to deliver cleaner and cheaper energy, we know there's a huge reserve of renewable resources on offer if we can develop the technology to harness it.
"Australian waters are the perfect place to research and develop these technologies, demonstrate their viability and work towards turning our clean energy potential into gigawatts of power."
