International renewable energy developer DP Energy will leverage its global expertise to pursue offshore wind development in Australia following greater government focus on the technology, backed by more supportive policy settings.

Australian Federal and State governments have embraced offshore wind potential as a mechanism to increase the contribution of renewable energy and meet emissions reduction targets. The Federal Government recently announced six regions across Australia with the potential for offshore wind projects, with Gippsland in Victoria the most advanced.

State governments have committed to ambitious renewable energy and emissions reduction targets with offshore wind energy increasingly viewed as a critical component to meet these goals. The Victorian government is aiming to generate approximately 20 per cent (2GW) of its energy needs from offshore wind by 2032, 4GW of offshore wind capacity by 2035 and 9GW by 2040.

Established almost 30 years ago, DP Energy has developed over 1GW of renewable energy projects across Australia, Canada, Ireland and the UK with three quarters of these projects already built and operational. It also has an immediate pipeline of a further 750MW due to enter construction in 2023 and an extended pipeline of some 6GW beyond that. These projects variously incorporate both on and offshore wind, solar and ocean energy technologies. DP Energy’s lead Australian projects include the 320MW Port Augusta Renewable Energy Park in South Australia, and the 430 MW Callide Wind Farm in Queensland.

In the offshore wind space DP Energy is already pursuing a number of projects across Europe and Canada and has partnered with Iberdrola to deliver 3GW of offshore wind in Ireland, and EDF Renewables for 1GW of offshore wind in the UK Celtic Sea. Australia will be its first venture into offshore wind in the southern hemisphere.

DP Energy Australia Director and Country Manager Catherine Way said DP Energy had been looking at offshore potential in Australia for a number of years and had previously identified development opportunities within the Federal Government’s recent declaration of areas for offshore wind projects. “We will draw on our long international experience in developing renewables projects, and more recently in offshore wind energy to develop Australian projects, which could include fixed and floating platforms depending on water depths,” Ms Way said.

“the increased focus from Federal and State governments on offshore wind energy is encouraging and the potential for a large island country such as Australia is significant. However, Australia is playing catch up with the rest of the world, particularly Europe, where this technology is more progressed and already a considerable contributor to the region’s renewable energy mix.

“As we bridge this gap with the rest of the world there is going to be significant investment in offshore wind energy in Australia, which will deliver jobs, growth and reduce the reliance on fossil fuels for the country’s energy security. At DP Energy, we are currently exploring opportunities, either as our own stand-alone projects or in partnership with other operators, as we have done successfully in Australia and overseas for many years.”

See attached map for DP Energy’s offshore wind sites. The map outlines the first five proposed areas in which DP Energy has begun development and feasibility works in the hope of progressing to a feasibility and then commercial licence. These areas are off the coast of Warrnambool in Western Victoria, Wonthaggi and Port Albert in the Gippsland Region, and Wollongong and Newcastle areas in NSW.

Australia Offshore Wind Potential Project Areas

A new course preparing students for the future renewables’ jobs market has been launched by Pembrokeshire College. Two global renewable energy companies – EDF Renewables UK and DP Energy – have joined forces with Pembrokeshire College and designed a course to raise awareness, transfer real-world sector knowledge, and inform career journeys for 16-18 year olds.

The 2-year course – Destination Renewables – will educate learners about renewable energy technologies,​ including wave, tidal, onshore wind, solar and offshore wind and associated project development processes. This collaboration with industry will help to bridge the skills gap and showcase the diverse range of careers within the sector, all the while supporting net zero targets and maximising regional benefits.

Pembrokeshire is already a centre for energy, having played host to established technologies such as gas and petrochemicals, and is now providing a home for emerging sectors in renewables. EDF Renewables UK and DP Energy are themselves developing Gwynt Glas, up to 1 GW of floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea, off the coast of Pembrokeshire.

Nancy McLean of EDF Renewables UK who is leading the Gwynt Glas project, said: “With an increasing focus on tackling climate change and securing energy supplies, renewable technologies have to be developed and rolled out quickly, and we need to build a skilled workforce to deliver our plans. The partnership with Pembrokeshire College helps us to develop homegrown talent and meets the Welsh Government’s aspirations to develop green skills to achieve net zero. In addition to developing the Gwynt Glas floating offshore wind project, EDF Renewables UK is investing in onshore wind, solar, and battery projects right across Wales, so future career opportunities are plentiful.”

Chris Williams, Head of Development UK and New Markets at DP Energy, said: “There is a wealth of renewables expertise in the County, which is one of the reasons why we recently opened our UK headquarters here in Pembroke Dock. By introducing learners to the many career pathways within renewables we believe we can build the workforce needed to support projects like Gwynt Glas and DP Energy’s wider ambitions in Wales including tidal, onshore wind, solar, batteries and hydrogen.  Having this skill base is crucial for Wales to maintain its position as a leader in renewable energy generation and technology development and is knowledge that can be exported across the world.”

Pembrokeshire College is the County’s largest provider of post-16 education and Head of Engineering, Arwyn Williams, said: “The College is delighted to be working so closely with industry to develop the talents needed for future careers in a sector that is so important to all our lives, and one which already has an established home right here in Pembrokeshire. Like our delivery partners – EDF Renewables UK and DP Energy – we are keen to maximise the regional benefits that renewables projects can bring, and we will focus our efforts on developing a skilled local labour force to work across all disciplines.”

Destination Renewables is underpinned by the Skills and Talent programme of the Swansea Bay City Deal, jointly funded by the Welsh and UK Governments, alongside private sector investment. Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum will support the renewables industry in the delivery of this private sector and education partnership to manage high-quality industry content standards and ensure a positive learner journey.

Pictured are Partners at the launch of Destination Renewables. Ffion Wright, Stakeholder and Communications Manager, DP Energy; Arwyn Williams, Head of Faculty for Engineering Pembrokeshire College; Jackie Mathias, Assistant Principal, Pembrokeshire College; Bethan Morgan, Project Development Manager, DP Energy;  Simon Morgan, Principal Project Development Manager, EDF Renewables.