Gippsland Dawn Offshore Wind Project is proposed to be located off the coast of Victoria, Australia. The project will be capable of generating of up to 2.1GW of energy.
In December 2021, BlueFloat Energy and clean energy developer Energy Estate announced plans to develop first three projects in Australia, including Gippsland Dawn. The other two projects announced alongside were the Hunter Coast Offshore Wind Project and Wollongong Offshore Wind Project.
The proposed capacity of the offshore wind project was increased from 1,275MW to 2,085MW in September 2022.
In July 2024, BlueFloat Energy received a feasibility licence for the Gippsland Offshore Wind Zone project. The licence permitted the company to carry out feasibility studies necessary to advance towards obtaining a commercial licence.
The project achieved Major Project Status from the federal government in November 2024. This designation ensures a Major Projects Facilitation Agency case manager will collaborate with BlueFloat Energy to streamline the government approvals process.
The Gippsland Dawn Offshore Wind Project involves an investment of A$10bn ($6.5bn), with construction anticipated to start in 2029. The project aims to be operational by 2031.
It is expected to generate 2,000 jobs during construction, along with up to 300 positions during operations and maintenance phase.
Gippsland Dawn Offshore Wind Project Location
The Gippsland Dawn Offshore Wind Project site is in the north-western corner of the declared Gippsland Offshore Wind Zone.
The site lies between 10km and 33km off the coast between Paradise Beach and Ocean Grange in Gippsland, Victoria.
Approval Process
The Gippsland Dawn Offshore Wind Project will undergo a comprehensive approvals process to evaluate its potential environmental, social, and economic impacts, before the construction begins. This includes extensive marine surveys throughout the project’s design and development stages.
Wind and wave surveys are slated to be conducted in 2025 over a 12-month period, potentially extending to 24 months. A floating LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) buoy will be used to measure wind speed and direction, capturing detailed data on ocean movements, wind strength, and height. These surveys are crucial for understanding the environmental conditions at sea, ensuring the project’s design and operations align with local ocean dynamics.
Multiple seafloor marine surveys will be conducted from the second quarter of 2025 to the second quarter of 2027. This will include benthic seafloor surveys and benthic fauna surveys.
Water and sediment quality surveys, electromagnetic field (EMF) assessments, and coastal process studies will also be conducted to deepen the understanding of the project’s environmental context.
Further, the geophysical surveys, geotechnical surveys and cultural heritage surveys will also be carried out.
Gippsland Dawn Wind Project Details
The 2.1GW Gippsland Dawn Offshore Wind Project will involve installation of up to 140 offshore wind turbines on fixed foundations.
The project is expected to have four offshore substations.
Electricity generated will be transported via subsea cables to an onshore landing point, which will be determined in alignment with government agency VicGrid’s connection hub area investigations.
The project is expected to have an operational lifespan exceeding 30 years.
In October 2024, the developer requested modifications to the project plan, proposing changes in location and a significant reduction in the scale of the wind project, particularly concerning its onshore components. These alterations are not expected to materially increase the impact on matters of national environmental significance.
The offshore turbine area for the wind project has shifted approximately 45km northeast of the original site. The new locations for the offshore wind turbines and substations are now approximately 10km to 33km from the coast, stretching between Paradise Beach and Ocean Grange.
Initially, the turbines were to be positioned approximately 10km to 42km from the coast between Woodside Beach and Seaspray.
The revised proposal includes the removal of the initially planned 500kV overhead transmission line. This line would have connected the onshore substation to the switchyard at the Loy Yang Power Station or the existing Hazelwood Terminal Station to integrate into the National Energy Market.
The onshore transmission line infrastructure beyond a connection point near Giffard is now proposed to be provided by VicGrid.
Additionally, the onshore study area will be smaller and is expected to be located between the shore crossing and the proposed VicGrid connection hub.
Contractors Involved
RPS Group, a Tetra Tech company, was contracted to offer expert consultancy services in stakeholder engagement, creative design, and regulatory approvals.
