Bridging offshore wind expertise: A Europe-Australia knowledge exchange
At a glance
Australia’s offshore wind industry is gaining momentum, and global collaboration is key to making it a success. On a recent visit to Australia, Alun Williams, GHD’s Offshore Wind Lead in the EMEA region, engaged with industry leaders, shared insights from Europe’s well-established offshore wind sector, and explored opportunities for advancing the industry in Australia. Below, Alun shares his key takeaways for Australia’s offshore wind sector, as well as his experiences from around the country.Australia's offshore wind future
Australia has a unique opportunity to build a thriving offshore wind industry. Taking on broad lessons from other markets globally and understanding how best to apply them in the Australian context will be one of the keys to success. Europe’s experience of taking large-scale offshore wind farms through development and successfully into operation offers valuable insights that can help accelerate Australia’s progress.
Scaling up a new industry will inevitably have challenges on multiple fronts. Those challenges, at a headline level, often have commonality across different geographic markets. Policy and regulatory frameworks remain critical in all markets, as does the development of supply chains. Similarly, grid constraints and approvals bottlenecks can impact the timelines for project deployment in many locations. These challenges continue to be faced in mature offshore wind markets looking to go to scale, as well as more emerging markets. This presents an opportunity, not only for innovation, but for the sharing of that innovation globally to help address challenges.
The conversations, connections, and strategy sessions from Alun’s visit reaffirmed the excitement and momentum behind Australia’s offshore wind journey, and continuing this collaboration will help shape a sustainable future for offshore wind in the country.
Sydney: Offshore Wind Australia Conference and industry engagement
Kicking off in Sydney, Alun was a panel facilitator and speaker at the Offshore Wind Australia Conference. This event brought together key stakeholders to discuss the future of offshore wind in Australia, from policy and project development to technical innovation and supply chain challenges.
Strong representation from GHD’s team reinforced our commitment to the offshore wind sector, with Alun sharing his thoughts on some of the innovative solutions being seen in international offshore wind markets. Healthy global offshore wind markets are undoubtedly beneficial to developing a healthy industry in Australia, but they also provide competition in terms of attracting developers. It will be important for Australia to remain attractive in this global context going forward.
Alun also facilitated a session focused on the practicalities of how to build an offshore wind farm. This session saw some lively and entertaining debate around deploying projects in Australian waters and the varying challenges of fixed versus floating offshore wind.
The night before the conference, Alun joined fellow industry professionals advocating for diversity and inclusion in offshore wind at the Women in Offshore Wind event. Not only was the event great fun, but it was also important in showcasing the role women are playing in shaping offshore wind in Australia. As a new industry, offshore wind must seize the opportunity to promote gender equality, contributing to a more sustainable future. There was also an opportunity at the event to catch up with a client project team working on a major offshore wind initiative in New South Wales, with GHD playing a key role.
Alun also attended a private screening of Planet Wind at a cinema near GHD’s Sydney office. Planet Wind is a feature documentary that GHD was proud to sponsor. It follows Australian renewable energy pioneer Andy Evans as he explores the global development of offshore wind energy, delving into humanity's relationship with wind and its transformative potential for our future. Filmed in thirteen countries and featuring over twenty offshore wind experts, the film highlights how harnessing this ever-present planetary force can lead to energy independence, economic revitalisation, and a sustainable world. The screening was launched with the wonderful poetry talents of GHD’s Sofie Mason-Jones.
In this great land where the sun meets the sea, Where the waves dance wild and free, Australia's shores embrace the breeze and harness the sun’s power with effortless ease.
Our coal plants retiring, their heroic time passed, Renewables rise, the die’s been cast,
Solar fields and wind farms grow, Powering communities with a sustainable glow.
Reducing reliance on fossil's might, Renewables bring a future bright,
Balancing nature with human need, limiting impacts, as panels and turbines breed.
Reducing carbon, clean and green, A sustainable path, a vision seen.
The grid is adapting, to new demands, With storage and dispatchable power at hand,
Skills and labour, demand racing supply, Essential infrastructure, but still questions of why
In the vast expanse of these southern seas, Where the wind whispers through the eucalyptus trees, Australia dreams of turbines tall, Yet faces hurdles that challenge all.
Our ocean's depths, a daunting task, Engineering feats, questions to ask, How to anchor in the shifting sand, And harness power from this untamed land.
The cost is high, the stakes are great, Investment needed, a heavy weight, Permits and planning, studies and reviews, Navigating laws, paying dues.
Wildlife wonders, a delicate dance, Protecting habitats, for their long term chance, Migrating whales, seabirds in flight, Balancing nature with human might.
Innovation thrives, technology leads, to meet the nation's energy needs.
Communities debate – both hope and fear, Could ‘Social licence’ be the Oxford word of the year? These challenges must be faced with courage and grace, BUT we really need to pick up the pace.
The vision, for the land of sun and sweeping plains, Where the outback meets the coastal rains, Is for communities, investors and government to align, For a future that's green, secure, and kind
For Australia's journey to a cleaner day, to be achieved in a collaborative and respectful way. Australia's vision, bold and grand, Offshore wind, a beacon for the land.
They say ‘with change comes opportunity’, but it’s what we leave forward that will be our legacy. Australia's spirit, strong and true, Will rise above, and see it through.
So let us celebrate this force, And steer our world on a less impactful course. For in the wind, we find our way, To a brighter, cleaner, hopeful day.
Melbourne: Strengthening our offshore wind strategy
In Melbourne, Alun engaged with industry partners and many of the technical teams within GHD that will play a key role in supporting offshore wind’s growth in Victoria, and across Australia more broadly. The internal sessions focused on combining GHD’s deep understanding around project approvals across Australia, and delivering engineering services, with our growing international expertise in the offshore wind sector. Fusing local delivery capability and global expertise will be key to industry success.
Alun also caught up with many of the proponents who have projects under development in the Gippsland Offshore Wind Declared Area, discussing the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead of them. The 12 projects currently granted feasibility licenses in the area will very much be at the forefront of pioneering Australia’s offshore wind industry.
The focus of these projects is currently the approvals process, but also the upcoming Victorian Contracts for Difference (CfD) auction process, due across 2025 and 2026. The industry is starting to consider how some of the challenges of being located close to one another, such as cumulative effects, can be appropriately and robustly managed.
Where to next?
The collaboration between Europe and Australia in offshore wind energy presents a significant opportunity for both parts of the world to leverage their respective expertise and resources.
By sharing knowledge and best practices, both regions can accelerate the development and deployment of offshore wind technologies, ultimately contributing to global efforts to combat climate change and transition to sustainable energy sources.
This partnership not only strengthens our bilateral relationship but also sets a precedent for international cooperation in addressing one of the most pressing challenges on our global doorstep.