Australia's offshore wind industry has established a strong policy framework under the Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Act 2021 and declared six offshore wind zones across Victoria, New South Wales, Western Australia, and Tasmania. Victoria alone has set ambitious targets of 2 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2032.

Several upcoming offshore wind farms in Australia, including Bunbury Offshore Wind Power, Aurora Green, Gippsland 1 (Gippsland 01), Great Eastern Offshore Wind, Star of the South, Kut-Wut Brataualung, and Gippsland 2 (Gippsland 02), are now progressing through feasibility studies, environmental assessments, and early engineering design.

In this article, we explore the top upcoming offshore wind farms in Australia, covering their locations, capacities, development status, technical specifications, timelines, and the key developers and contractors involved.

List of Top 7 Upcoming Offshore Wind Farm Projects in Australia 2026

Bunbury Offshore Wind Farm

The Bunbury Offshore Wind project is a proposed 4 GW offshore wind development located more than 30 km off the coast of Bunbury, Western Australia. The development comprises three separate offshore wind projects, including Bunbury Offshore Wind North, Bunbury Offshore Wind South, and Westward Wind within the Bunbury Offshore Wind Zone, which spans approximately 3,995 sq km. 

Together, these projects are expected to supply renewable electricity to around 2.7 million homes and support Western Australia's long-term clean energy transition.

Technical Specifications

The combined development will have an installed capacity of approximately 4 GW. The projects are located within Australia's declared Bunbury Offshore Wind Zone, which has the potential to support up to 11.4 GW of offshore wind generation. The wind farms will be situated more than 30 km offshore, with final turbine models, foundation designs, and electrical infrastructure to be determined during the feasibility and environmental assessment phases.

Current Status

Bunbury Offshore Wind is currently in the feasibility and pre-construction phase. On 23 January 2026, the Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water (DCCEEW) awarded final feasibility licences to all three projects, allowing developers to undertake detailed site investigations, environmental studies, and stakeholder consultations. Subject to regulatory approvals and investment decisions, construction is expected to begin around 2033, with commercial operations targeted for 2037.

Key Contractors

Aurora Green Offshore Wind Project

The Aurora Green Offshore Wind Project is a proposed 3 GW offshore wind farm located in the Gippsland Offshore Wind Zone off the coast of Victoria, Australia. Developed by Iberdrola Australia, the project will be situated more than 25 km offshore between Seaspray and Woodside Beach to minimize visual impacts. 

As one of Australia's largest planned offshore wind developments, Aurora Green is expected to generate enough renewable electricity to power up to 2.25 million households while supporting Victoria's clean energy transition.

Technical Specifications

Aurora Green will have an installed capacity of up to 3 GW and will be developed in three phases across an offshore site covering approximately 700 sq km. The project is expected to comprise up to 150 offshore wind turbines, each with an individual capacity of around 20 MW. Electricity generated by the turbines will be collected through inter-array cables (up to 132 kV) and transmitted via export cables (up to 330 kV) to offshore substations before connecting to an onshore substation and VicGrid's Giffard connection hub. 

The project is designed with an operational life of 30-40 years, while the final turbine foundation technology will be determined following seabed and metocean investigations.

Current Status

Aurora Green is currently in the feasibility and planning phase. In July 2024, Iberdrola Australia was awarded a feasibility licence for the Gippsland Offshore Wind Zone, enabling detailed site investigations, environmental assessments, and engineering studies required before applying for a commercial licence. Environmental surveys and stakeholder engagement activities are currently underway as the project advances toward future development approvals.

Key Contractors

Gippsland 1 (Gippsland 01) Offshore Wind Farm

The Gippsland 1 (Gippsland 01) Offshore Wind Farm is a proposed 2.8 GW offshore wind project located in the Gippsland Offshore Wind Zone off the coast of Victoria, Australia. Developed by Ørsted Offshore Australia 1 Pty Ltd, the project will be situated more than 56 km offshore in Commonwealth waters.

Technical Specifications

The project will have an installed capacity of up to 2.8 GW and is expected to comprise up to 200 offshore wind turbines, each with a maximum tip height of 350 m. The development will include offshore wind generation infrastructure, offshore substations, and approximately 90-120 km of export transmission cables connecting the wind farm to the onshore electricity network. Final turbine models and foundation designs will be confirmed following completion of ongoing feasibility and environmental studies.

Current Status

Gippsland 1 is currently in the feasibility and environmental assessment phase. Ørsted was awarded a seven-year feasibility licence in 2024, allowing the project to undertake detailed engineering, environmental, and site investigations. The project's Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has been submitted under Australia's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act, with public consultation underway. 

Feasibility studies are expected to continue through 2027, while the associated Gippsland Offshore Wind Transmission Project, led by VicGrid, is progressing through procurement, with a development partner expected to be appointed in 2026.

Key Contractors

Great Eastern Offshore Wind Farm

The Great Eastern Offshore Wind Farm is a proposed 2.5 GW offshore wind project located in the Gippsland Offshore Wind Zone off the coast of Victoria, Australia. Developed by Corio Generation, the project will be situated approximately 22 km offshore from the Wellington Shire coast, east of Wilsons Promontory. Once completed, it is expected to become one of Australia's largest offshore wind developments, supporting Victoria's transition to renewable energy.

Technical Specifications

The project is planned with an installed capacity of up to 2.5 GW. It will be located within Australia's first declared offshore wind zone in Gippsland, with final turbine numbers, foundation designs, and electrical infrastructure to be determined during the feasibility and environmental assessment phases. The development will include offshore generation assets, export transmission infrastructure, and onshore grid connection facilities.

Current Status

Great Eastern Offshore Wind is currently in the feasibility and early planning phase. Corio Generation was awarded a feasibility licence for the project in July 2024, enabling detailed site investigations, environmental studies, and engineering assessments required before applying for a commercial licence. 

The project is expected to begin construction in January 2028, with commercial completion targeted by December 2031, subject to regulatory approvals and final investment decisions.

Key Contractors

Star of the South Offshore Wind Farm

The Star of the South Offshore Wind Farm is a proposed 2.2 GW offshore wind project located in the Bass Strait, approximately 10-40 km off the Gippsland coast of Victoria, Australia. Developed by Southerly Ten, backed by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) and Cbus Super, the project is Australia's most advanced offshore wind development. 

Once operational, it is expected to generate enough renewable electricity to power approximately 1.2 million homes, supplying around 20% of Victoria's electricity demand.

Technical Specifications

Star of the South will have an installed capacity of up to 2,200 MW across an offshore development area of approximately 586 sq km. The project is expected to comprise up to 150 offshore wind turbines, each with a maximum tip height of around 350 m. Electricity generated by the wind farm will be transmitted to the Latrobe Valley through new offshore and onshore transmission infrastructure, connecting into Australia's National Electricity Market (NEM).

Current Status

Star of the South is currently in the pre-construction and environmental assessment phase. In 2026, the project released its draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Environment Effects Statement (EES) for public consultation under both Commonwealth and Victorian approval processes. 

Subject to regulatory approvals and a final investment decision, construction is expected to commence around 2030, with first power targeted for 2032. The complete build-out could extend to 2037, depending on construction sequencing and project execution.

Key Contractors

Kut-Wut Brataualung Offshore Wind Farm

The Kut-Wut Brataualung Offshore Wind Farm is a proposed 2.2 GW offshore wind project located in the Gippsland Offshore Wind Zone off the coast of Victoria, Australia. Developed by Southerly Ten, with investment from Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), the project is expected to become one of the world's largest offshore wind farms. 

Once operational, it is projected to generate enough renewable electricity to power up to 1.2 million homes, supplying approximately 20% of Victoria's electricity demand.

Technical Specifications

The project will have an installed capacity of up to 2.2 GW within a 689 sq km feasibility licence area located approximately 45 km offshore near Wilsons Promontory. Positioned within Australia's Gippsland Offshore Wind Zone, the project will harness the region's strong "Roaring Forties" winds. 

The development will include offshore wind turbines, steel foundations, offshore and onshore substations, high-voltage export cables, medium-voltage inter-array cables, and associated balance-of-plant infrastructure. The wind farm is expected to have an operational lifespan of approximately 30 years.

Current Status

Kut-Wut Brataualung is currently in the feasibility and early development phase. The project was awarded a Commonwealth feasibility licence in May 2024, allowing developers to undertake seabed investigations, environmental studies, wind resource assessments, and stakeholder consultations. Subject to successful feasibility studies, environmental approvals, and a final investment decision, construction is expected during the 2030s, with commercial operations targeted around 2035.

Key contractors

Gippsland 2 (Gippsland 02) Offshore Wind Farm

The Gippsland 2 (Gippsland 02) Offshore Wind Farm is a proposed 2 GW offshore wind project located in the Gippsland Offshore Wind Zone off the coast of Victoria, Australia. Developed by Ørsted, the project will be situated approximately 56–100 km offshore in Commonwealth waters. Together with the adjacent 2.8 GW Gippsland 1 project, Gippsland 2 forms a key part of Ørsted's Australian offshore wind portfolio and Victoria's long-term renewable energy strategy.

Technical Specifications

Gippsland 2 is planned with an installed capacity of up to 2 GW and is expected to utilize next-generation offshore wind turbines in the 15 MW to 26 MW class. Turbines are expected to feature tip heights of up to 310 m and will be supported by monopile or jacket foundations, depending on seabed conditions identified during ongoing site investigations. 

Electricity generated by the project will be transmitted through a subsea array and export cables to an onshore 500 kV terminal station near Giffard, before connecting to the Latrobe Valley (Loy Yang) via approximately 60 km of overhead transmission lines.

Current Status

Gippsland 2 is currently in the feasibility and planning phase. Ørsted secured a Commonwealth feasibility licence in May 2024, enabling marine environmental surveys, geotechnical investigations, wind resource assessments, and stakeholder consultation. 

Final engineering designs, including turbine selection, foundation technology, cable routing, and offshore electrical infrastructure, will be determined following completion of these studies and the environmental approval process.

Key Contractors

Conclusion

Australia's offshore wind sector is transitioning from policy development to project execution. While all major projects remain in the feasibility or environmental assessment stage, significant progress has been made through offshore wind zone declarations, feasibility licence awards, transmission planning, and the upcoming Victorian offshore wind auction. As environmental approvals, commercial licences, and investment decisions move forward, the country's first offshore wind farms are expected to begin construction later this decade.

Find the Latest  Offshore Wind Power Plant Projects in Australia with Ease

Are you looking for a platform that gives you reliable, high-quality, and timely project insights for Wind Farm Projects in Australia?

Discover the Global Project Tracking (GPT) platform by Blackridge Research, designed to provide you with the most recent Australia Offshore Wind Power Projects and Tenders better and faster across various stages of development.