Ørsted completes Gippsland wind geo studies

Danish energy multinational Ørsted has completed marine geophysical and geotechnical surveys, and placement of wind and ocean condition measurement devices, as part of feasibility investigations for its Gippsland Offshore Wind Farm projects.

The far-shore project site is located 56 km – 100 km from land, south of Port Anthony, and beyond the visible eyeline from the coast. The geotechnical surveys, which provide understanding of the composition of the seabed, were completed in April, with tests completed in about 60 locations across our two feasibility licence areas.

The investigations were conducted via penetration tests using a small test module deployed from a vessel, as well as sediment samples taken using specialised grab samplers. Each test takes about four hours to complete.

Data is now being analysed both in the Ørsted offices as well as in a laboratory, and will help the project team choose locations that provide strong foundations to build wind turbines on, the company said.

These tests followed an earlier geophysical survey of the seabed, using a survey vessel and local specialists to conduct a series of non-invasive scans that help us understand seabed and subsurface conditions.

During the same period, sophisticated devices that measure wind, weather and ocean conditions were successfully deployed and anchored within Ørsted’s licence areas, which will now stay in place for two years.

They are mapping wind, wave, current and meteorological parameters to allow Ørsted to optimise the eventual configuration of the wind farms and how to best operate them. The devices includes the innovative USV (Uncrewed Surface Vessel) which uses state-of-the-art technology developed by Ørsted to undertake long-endurance surveys at sea, which is being used for the first time outside Europe.​​

“To ensure marine surveys could be completed safely, Ørsted actively engaged with existing marine users to understand their use of intended survey locations and mitigate any impacts. Ørsted is committed to continuing this engagement through regular communication and Notices to Mariners.

“With the devices now providing ongoing data to the project team, this is the culmination of many months of preparation, and represents a significant milestone in helping us understand the seabed and metocean conditions of the offshore wind farm site,” the company said.

Ørsted is proposing two adjoining offshore wind farms known as GIP01 and GIP02. Should this project proceed, it will be capable of delivering up to 4.8 GW total capacity – sufficient clean energy to power 4 million households per year.

Ørsted says the project will also be key to the Victorian Government’s planned renewable energy transition and will help to meet legislated targets for clean energy of at least 2 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind energy generation by 2032, 4GW by 2035 and 9GW by 2040.

The key components of the Project include: • wind turbines, inter-array cables and offshore substations • subsea cables to connect the wind farms to the Gippsland coast • transmission lines and onshore substations.

In 2024, Ørsted was awarded two feasibility licences under Australia’s Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Act 2021 (OEI Act), indicating the areas in which the project can be developed (FL004 and FL009). These licences allow Ørsted to undertake activities within the feasibility licence area to help inform the feasibility phase of the project.

The first project is expected to be completed in the early 2030s.