A new study has highlighted the considerable opportunities for the UK to collaborate with Australia and share its wind industry knowledge with the nation’s emerging offshore wind market. The Australian Offshore Wind Market Study presented by Arup, explore the potential of the national offshore wind market and examines the strengths, weaknesses and opportunities for the UK in supporting the nation.

Damon Sunderland, the offshore wind leader for Arup Australasia, explains that their analysis is supporting investment and partnership opportunities required to expand Australia’s offshore wind market, a critical area to scale renewable energy supply. Particular findings suggest that the Australian offshore wind market could significantly benefit from partnering with UK suppliers, given its 20+ years of experience and reputation as the second-largest offshore wind market worldwide, with 13.0GW of installed capacity as of this year.

At present, Australia has over 40 offshore wind projects anticipated for development. In particular, the award of feasibility licences for the Gippsland area in Victoria is due to be announced very soon, and feasibility applications for the Hunter Zone in New South Wales earmarked for offshore wind development are due before the end of this year.

The government stated that the report also focused on the challenges such as distance between the two markets, local content requirements and public perceptions. Tackling these potential issues will be facilitated by the launch of the UK-Australia free trade agreement, allowing for tariff-free exports of components, like inter-array cables and wind turbine blades.

Nick Crouch, the Deputy High Commissioner to Australia, explains that releasing this report before COP28 in Dubai is significant. COP28 comes at a pivotal time, and a top priority for the UK is ensuring that COP28 delivers a result that puts our world on the right path to achieving temperature rises below 1.5C. According to Crouch, the climate partnership between the UK and Australia, is a direct response to this challenge, as both nations continue to pursue their net-zero commitments.

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