Offshore Wind in the Illawarra.
The opportunities are limitless.

A Snapshot of the Illawarra Offshore Wind Farm

2028 Construction Start

2031 Energisation

2,000MW Indicative Capacity

+20KM Distance to Coast

How Offshore Wind Works

Given the deep water off the coast of NSW, Illawarra Offshore Wind will utilise floating foundation technology where turbines are deployed in water depths greater than 70 metres. Wind turbine generators harness the wind’s kinetic energy to convert into electrical energy for transmission. Electricity will be transmitted from the floating substation to the onshore substation, following transformation via export cables (for example, rated at 330kV capable of carrying up to 600MW per circuit). The subsea export cables will then traverse land via a shore crossing and continue underground to connection points within onshore substations for connection to the NSW power grid.

3D Offshore Wind Farm diagram Flo a ting Sub s t a tion I nt e r -arr a y Cable Flo a ting F ound a tions ( T ransition Pie c e + Flo a ting S tru c tu r e) Wind T urbine Gener at o r s (Na c elle, Gear b o x, Blades) Wind T urbine S t eel T ow e r s High V olta g e E xport Cable Mooring Line Anchor F o o tin g s 3D Offshore Wind Farm diagram Flo a ting F ound a tions ( T r ansition Pie c e + Flo a ting S tru c tu r e) Flo a ting Sub s t a tion High V olta g e E xport Cable Mooring Line Anchor F o o tin g s I nt e r -ar r a y Cable Wind T urbine Gene r at o r s (Na c elle, Gear b o x, Blades) Wind T urbine S t eel T ow e r s

A single rotation of an offshore wind turbine can supply a day’s worth of energy for an average NSW household.

Why Offshore Wind for the Illawarra

Use of Existing Grid Infrastructure

Illawarra Offshore Wind is close to strong existing grid infrastructure, reducing the need for large investment in new onshore electricity infrastructure.

Significant New Job Opportunities

Illawarra Offshore Wind will create around 3,000 direct jobs during construction and a further 300 jobs during its 30-year operational life.

Large Investment in Illawarra Region

An offshore wind industry will inject hundreds of millions of development expenditure into the Illawarra Region plus billions of dollars of capital investment to construct multiple wind farms. Further investment is needed to support offshore wind such as enabling infrastructure at port and new supplier workshops and facilities.

Accelerating the New Economy

Offshore wind energy, along with hydrogen production and the electrification of transport, are exciting new large-scale industries that can assist in creating many energy, economic, environmental, technical and social benefits for Australia, NSW and the Illawarra Region.

Innovation Opportunities

The Illawarra could be home to Australia’s Offshore Wind Energy Hub. In partnership with the University of Wollongong, there are significant opportunities for NSW to develop innovations in floating fountains, mooring systems, welding automation and robotics and advanced materials research in the marine environment.

Leverage Existing Heavy Industry

Heavy industry has dominated economic development in the Illawarra for more than 150 years. The region is renowned for coal mining, steel making, manufacturing and power generation. The Illawarra Shoalhaven region has 30 years of expertise in hydrogen production and an existing customer base in electricity generation.

Revitalise Local Manufacturing

Floating technology is a significant opportunity for Australian steel producers and NSW steel fabricators to work with designers to shape design and then undertake most of the manufacturing in the Illawarra. Given the size of floating foundations and the modularity of most designs, it makes sense that foundations are manufactured close to Port Kembla, with many subcomponents spread across a local fabrication ecosystem.

Reliable and Strong Energy

Offshore wind can supply large-scale, energy generation to meet the needs of a growing population. Illawarra Wind will be powered by strong, consistent wind resources off the coast to generate large, reliable and secure energy.

Existing Deep Water Port

The Illawarra is the ideal location for both the construction and operation of an offshore wind industry which requires deep water for vessel movement and direct access to Port Kembla.

Illawarra Offshore Wind Farm Indicative Project Timeline

Development/Feasibility

4 years

  1. Public Consultation

    Cth Energy Minister invites public submission for Pacific Ocean region off the coast of Illawarra.

  2. Offshore Area Declared

    Cth Energy Minister declares offshore area. Illawarra Wind applies for Feasibility Licence application for the Illawarra Offshore Wind Farm.

  3. Feasibility Licence Granted

    Detailed feasibility licence activities including floating LiDAR deployment, environmental surveys, geotechnical investigations, design and engineering, detailed assessments of key infrastructure including Port Kembla.

Assembly and Construction

4 years

  1. Commence 2028

    A direct workforce of around 3,000 at construction peak will be needed to construct the Illawarra Offshore Wind Farm. Floating foundation components will be assembled quayside at port (a single steel foundation can weigh up to 4,500 tonnes).

  2. Assembly

    Onshore cranes will lift the wind turbine tower for connection to the floating foundation unit. Finally, the nacelle and blades with rotor diameter of around 250m, will be installed atop the wind turbine tower.

  3. Installation

    Assuming the 72-hour weather forecast is favourable, 3 tugboats travelling at 3 knots will take 2 days to tow 1 assembled WTG and floating foundation unit to the hook up site, around 40km from port. Marine crews on a hook up vessel and crew transfer vessel will then affix the unit to the mooring and anchor system, already installed on the seabed.

  4. Hookup

    Finally, a cable laying vessel will connect the units, substation and ultimately the export cable to shore. A further indirect workforce of around 7,000 FTEs will be needed to support construction crews.

  5. First Energisation 2030

    Energisation of the first array of installed turbines. Electricity is transmitted into the NSW grid. Commissioning and final asset handover will occur at a later date.

Operation and Maintenance

30 years

  1. Port Kembla HQ

    The Illawarra Offshore Wind Farm will be serviced by a team based at Port Kembla. A workforce of around 300 FTEs will be needed to operate, monitor and maintain the offshore wind farm: from onshore control room technicians and facility managers to offshore turbine technicians, cable technicians, divers and vessel operators

Register your business today

The Illawarra Offshore Wind Farm is committed to the sustainable development of a supply chain that optimises local regional capability and global experience to develop and deliver world-class, nationally significant projects of enduring benefit. We invite the local and global supply chain to register so we can get started. You will be the first to receive project updates and the opportunity to participate in shaping a NSW based offshore wind industry.

Register now