Recently, the first offshore wind power project in Australia, Southern Star, officially released an environmental impact assessment report and a Victorian environmental assessment report, entering the public opinion solicitation stage. The total planned capacity of the project is 2.2 gigawatts, with a planned installation of up to 147 wind turbines, expected to provide power to approximately 1.2 million households in the area.

The project is located 10 to 40 kilometers south of the Gippsland Coast in Victoria, with wind turbine blade tip heights reaching up to 350 meters. The project is expected to contribute approximately AUD 8 billion to the local economy throughout its entire lifecycle, creating around 6000 job opportunities, including 600 construction positions and 200 long-term operation and maintenance positions. The developer aims to start construction before 2030. Keywords: Wind power new energy news、wind power energy

This environmental impact assessment lasted for five years and evaluated 26 topics, covering impacts on marine mammals, sea turtles, nearshore birds, seabed ecology, shipping and fisheries. Submarine cables will be buried 0.6 to 2 meters below the seabed, while onshore cables will be completely laid underground. From May 18th to June 29th, 2026, the public can submit their opinions through the project website or the official website of the Victorian government.Editor/Gao Xue