Corio CEO heralds Australia’s offshore wind opportunity
Jonathan Cole speaks at Australian Clean Energy Summit
Corio Generation is making significant progress towards delivering the 2.5 GW Great Eastern Offshore Wind project, located in the Gippsland offshore wind zone off the coast of Victoria.
Corio was awarded a feasibility license today, following the Commonwealth’s announcement of its intention to grant the license on May 1 and can now conduct the detailed assessment works required to progress the Great Eastern Offshore Wind project to a commercial stage.
Speaking at this week’s Australian Clean Energy Summit in Sydney, organised by the Clean Energy Council, Jonathan Cole, CEO of Corio Generation, said that: “Offshore wind technology is a proven, clean, and cost-competitive form of electricity generation and we strongly believe the state and people of Victoria will greatly benefit from harnessing one of the world's premier offshore wind resources.”
“Our Victorian team combines extensive international experience in delivering world-class offshore wind farms with strong local knowledge and capabilities. Great Eastern Offshore wind will contribute to Australia’s energy transition and journey towards net zero.
At the summit, Jonathan shared his views about offshore wind opportunities for Australia, noting: “We believe that the offshore wind sector can play a vital role in delivering clean, green and affordable renewable energy across Australia and providing economic development for local communities.”
“Developing offshore wind projects will attract large-scale and long-term investment, driving the growth of Australia’s supply chain and creating valuable new employment opportunities,” he added.
The team behind the Great Eastern Offshore Wind project has undertaken significant community and stakeholder engagement since 2021 and is looking forward to continuing to work with all stakeholders, including governments, local communities, and First Nations peoples in the forthcoming phases of the project.
About Great Eastern Offshore Wind
The 2.5 GW Great Eastern Offshore Wind project is located approximately 22 kilometers off the central Gippsland coast to the east of Wilsons Promontory.
The fixed-bottom wind project will help to accelerate the offshore wind sector in Australia, while supporting state and national efforts to reduce our carbon emissions.
The project has recently achieved a milestone by completing 17 months of a 24-month marine environmental baseline survey program to inform the project development. The project is expected to be operational in 2032 to meet Victorian state targets and the project will then be operational for 30-plus years.
Great Eastern Offshore Wind will be tapping into the region’s existing skills and experience from local industries to support the development, construction and operation of the project.
A major aspect of the project will be to build local capacity and generate long-lasting benefits for local communities for years to come.
For more information, visit www.greateasternoffshorewind.com.au
About Corio Generation
Corio Generation is a specialist offshore wind business dedicated to harnessing renewable energy worldwide. With a unique blend of sector-leading expertise and deep access to long-term capital, Corio works closely with partners in the creation and management of projects from origination, development and construction, and into operations.
Corio has one of the world’s largest offshore wind project pipelines with 30 GW in development across Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Americas. Corio’s project portfolio spans established and emerging markets, as well as floating and fixed-foundation technologies. These next-generation offshore wind projects will help form the backbone of the net-zero global energy system while meeting the energy needs of communities and corporate offtakers sustainably, reliably, safely and responsibly.
Operating on a standalone basis, Corio Generation is a portfolio company of Macquarie Asset Management, part of Macquarie Group. For more information visit coriogeneration.com.