The proposed 1-gigawatt Blue Mackerel Offshore Wind Project has been awarded Major Project Status (MPS) by the Australian federal government, a designation that acknowledges its potential contribution to the country’s net-zero transition.
The decision provides the project with dedicated assistance from the Federal Major Projects Facilitation Agency to help navigate environmental and regulatory approvals, subject to future requirements and the granting of a commercial licence.
Country manager Anil Chanana said the designation was “a strong vote of confidence in Blue Mackerel and the critical role it would play in the emerging offshore wind sector and in Australia’s energy transition. It recognises the project’s scale, its contribution to energy security and emissions reduction, significant lasting benefits to the local community and the importance of getting complex approvals right and in-time.”
Chanana added that Blue Mackerel, which has already secured a feasibility licence and is the first to hold an approved Management Plan under new offshore regulations, is “ideally positioned to help replace retiring coal generation with large-scale, reliable renewable energy.”
The project is located about 10 km off the Gippsland coast, between Seaspray and Woodside on Brataualung and Tatungalung Country. At full capacity, Blue Mackerel could generate enough electricity to power up to 750,000 Victorian homes annually by 2032, according to the developer.
Blue Mackerel is being developed by JERA Nex bp, a 50:50 joint venture between JERA Co. and bp. The partnership has more than 15 years of global offshore wind experience and an end-to-end portfolio of around 13 GW of net potential generating capacity, including roughly 1 GW in operation, 7.5 GW in development and 4.5 GW from secured leases.
“The offshore wind sector is at a critical inflection point, both globally and in Australia,” Chanana said. “In granting MPS to key renewable energy initiatives such as Blue Mackerel, the Australian Government is sending a strong signal of its commitment to offshore wind and a clean energy future.”
