A major offshore wind project is moving ahead.
Iberdrola Australia has cleared a major regulatory hurdle in the development of its Aurora Green Offshore Wind Project, with the Offshore Infrastructure Regulator (OIR) approving the project’s feasibility-stage Management Plan.
Located over 25 km off Ninety Mile Beach in Gippsland, the proposed offshore wind farm is designed to deliver up to 3 GW of clean energy – enough to power approximately 2.25 million homes.
The approval enables Iberdrola to begin its metocean studies within the 700 km² licence area.
These studies are critical to evaluating the project’s technical feasibility and will involve the deployment of three specialised instruments: a Floating Light Detection and Ranging (FLiDAR) buoy, a wave buoy, and a seabed frame.
Installation is scheduled for mid to late July, weather permitting, and the equipment will remain in place for at least 12 months.
The FLiDAR buoy will collect vertical wind profiles along with meteorological data such as air pressure and humidity. The buoy operates on solar and wind power and includes a dual GPS, AIS transponder, and visual signals to mitigate vessel collision risk.
Adjacent to the FLiDAR, a second buoy will measure wave height, direction, and sea surface temperature.
The third element, a seabed frame moored in depths over 30 metres, will host instruments to monitor ocean currents, water temperature, conductivity, turbidity, and chlorophyll.
All equipment was selected to minimise disruption to commercial fishing, with final locations refined following stakeholder consultation.
“The OIR has been constructive and collaborative in helping us work through the details of our plan, ensuring that we can move forward with the confidence that our activities are safe, responsible, and aligned with the expectations of the regulatory framework,” said Ross Rolfe AO, Iberdrola Australia’s Chairman and CEO.
Subject to further approvals, the first 1 GW phase is anticipated to be operational by 2032.
In the interim, Iberdrola continues broader site assessments, including geophysical and ecological surveys, to inform the design and environmental approvals process.