State of Victoria first sub-national member of GWEC
By:
Chris Anderson
29/08/2023
GWEC
The Global Offshore Wind
Alliance (GOWA) has welcomed the State of Victoria as its first first sub-national
member. According to GOWA this is a key moment for offshore development
in the region, as Australia rapidly accelerates its plans for renewable
energy deployment. Collaboration is fundamental to delivering on offshore
wind potential, and the Alliance hopes this membership will be the first
of many sub-national stakeholders who will play a critical role in the
energy transition.
Australia represents
the second-biggest offshore wind pipeline in the Asia-Pacific region, behind
only China, with 50 GW planned. The State of Victoria has been clear with
its ambitions targets of at least 2 GW by 2032, a total of 4 GW by 2035,
and reaching 9 GW of offshore capacity by 2040 – and the support and resources
from other markets and key industry groups that GOWA can provide will be
crucial to these goals being met.
“This momentous announcement
demonstrates that Australia's ambition to become an offshore wind powerhouse
runs from the federal government through to state governments and beyond.
Ambition must be allied to action, and the collaborative approach shown
by Australia’s government in supporting this application can be a model
for action elsewhere. Ben Backwell, CEO, GWEC
The Global Offshore
Wind Alliance (GOWA) was founded by Denmark, IRENA, and GWEC with the ambition
to create a global driving force for the uptake of offshore wind through
political mobilisation and the creation of a global community of practice.
The aim of GOWA is to contribute to achieving a total global offshore wind
capacity of at least 380 GW by 2030, with 35 GW on average each year across
the 2020s and a minimum of 70 GW each year from 2030.
GOWA’s vision is a
world in which offshore wind makes a significant contribution to the energy
transition and the achievement of the sustainable development goals through
large-scale renewable power generation, benefiting regions, countries and
critical sectors such as industry and transportation.
Lily D’Ambrosio, Victorian
Minister for Energy and Resources said: “Victoria’s application to join
the Global Offshore Wind Alliance as the first sub-national member is testament
to our world leading offshore wind targets and unmatched natural wind resources.”
“We look forward to
working with our partner countries and organisations to support the acceleration
and delivery of offshore wind energy in the APAC region and across the
globe.”
Pernille Dahler
Kardel, Danish Ambassador to Australia, said, “We are happy to welcome
the state of Victoria onboard as the first subnational government to join
GOWA. This truly strengthens the multi-stakeholder nature of the
alliance, which brings together a wide range of stakeholders in order to
accelerate offshore wind deployment globally through political mobilisation
and the creation of a global community of practice. I look forward to further
deepening our collaboration with the state of Victoria on offshore wind.”
Ben Backwell, CEO,
Global Wind Energy Council said: “This momentous announcement demonstrates
that Australia’s ambition to become an offshore wind powerhouse runs from
the federal government through to state governments and beyond. Ambition
must be allied to action, and the collaborative approach shown by Australia’s
government in supporting this application can be a model for action elsewhere.
“One of the pillars
of the Global Offshore Wind Alliance is to accelerate the deployment of
offshore wind, and the enthusiasm shown by the Victorian Government, particularly
Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio, in hosting the first
APAC Summit in Melbourne will highlight how collaboration, knowledge-sharing
and public-private interaction are key to delivering on the APAC region’s
enormous potential.
Amisha Patel, Director,
Global Public Affairs, Offshore Wind, Global Wind Energy Council, said:
“The Global Offshore Wind Alliance is delighted to welcome its first sub-national
member into this community of offshore wind best-practice.
