Alliance to promote wind energy: Gippsland New Energy Conference

The Committee for Gippsland and the Gippsland Climate Change Network have joined forces with Gippsland offshore wind proponents to officially launch the Gippsland Offshore Wind Alliance at the Gippsland New Energy Conference in Traralgon last week.

The launch was attended by Federal Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen and Senator Dr Jess Walsh.

“The Gippsland community is bringing generations of energy experience to back offshore wind. I was proud to stand alongside the Alliance for their launch today,” Senator Walsh said.

“As a Senator for Victoria, to see Gippsland leading the way in renewable energy is incredible. It’s communities like these here in Gippsland who will power our renewable energy future, benefitting the region and the country.”

C4G chief executive Tony Cantwell said offshore wind presented an opportunity to create new jobs, boost Victoria’s manufacturing and supply chains, increase regional investment, and contribute to Australia’s net-zero goals.

“As Australia’s first offshore wind zone leading the establishment of the sector in Australia, Gippsland can be the exemplar to other regions undergoing transition on best practice in regional engagement, collaboration and advocacy,” he said.

“A key focus for the alliance is to encourage a local offshore wind industry that proactively engages with local communities, realises job and other economic opportunities, involves local suppliers and creates a positive legacy for Gippsland.”

The alliance aims to bring together a broad and diverse group of partners including industry, community and regional leaders, local government, government agencies, unions and trade and labour councils.

GCCN chief executive Darren McCubbin, who is also an alliance co-chairman, called on local groups and organisations to get on board if they wanted to see an offshore wind sector progress for the region.

“We’re excited as supporters of the environmental and climate movement to be partnering with industry and other stakeholders to make offshore wind a reality for Gippsland,” he said.

“With Victorian government targets in place for offshore wind and 12 licenced projects, now is the time to double down and keep the momentum and investment interest in the region, while putting Gippsland on the world stage.”

After the first two events were held in Sale, Traralgon hosted the conference for the first time this year, attracting the best part of 800 people to the region.

Attendees mingled with various dignitaries, which included state and federal politicians and representatives from energy providers, to learn more about renewable energy options as Gippsland prepares to transition to a possible life beyond coal-fired power.

The federal government used the conference to announce it will be funding a large-scale battery in Gippsland as part of a larger plan to back a total six batteries in Victoria and South Australia renewable power.

The Wooreen 350 megawatt energy storage system operated by EnergyAustralia on the existing site of the Jeeralang Power Station at Hazelwood North has been chosen for this plan.

The batteries selected for federal funding support can run for up to four hours, delivering a reliable flow of clean energy whenever needed, including by storing cheap, plentiful, rooftop and large-scale solar power generated during daylight hours.

“The Albanese government is making sure when Victorian and South Australians hit the light switch, they have access to the cheapest, reliable renewable power, when and where they want it,” Minister Bowen said.

Also at the conference, Federation University Australia announced it was strengthening its capability to support the renewable energy industry in Gippsland with the expansion of its Asia Pacific Renewable Energy Training Centre.

APRETC will become a central hub for the delivery of renewable energy training and research in Gippsland, with a more than $2.6 million investment from industry partners Corio Generation, OSMI Australia, Iberdrola Renewables Australia and Origin x RES.

This will fund 300 scholarships over the next 10 years, worth $1.6 million, for students studying in the areas of engineering, business, information technology, data science, and environmental science, beginning 2025. It will also support renewable energy research and repurposing spaces at Federation’s Gippsland campus in Churchill, where energy partners, researchers, students and the community can collaborate.

Federation will also recruit a Gippsland-based Associate Professor of Renewable Energy to help deliver a dedicated renewable energy program in Gippsland.

In Gippsland, APRETC will provide training, education and research to support renewable technologies including hydrogen, geothermal, wind, and solar, along with the transmission and storage for renewable projects.

This article was published in Gippsland Times, here.