MinterEllison has advised the State of Victoria on Australia's first offshore wind renewable energy auction, a landmark initiative designed to support Victoria's transition to renewable energy and facilitate the development of an initial 2 GW of offshore wind electricity generation capacity.

The Victorian Government announced the commencement of the auction, which is open to Gippsland offshore wind feasibility licence holders. Projects supported through the auction are expected to generate enough electricity to power approximately 1.5 million homes each year and contribute significantly to Victoria's long-term energy transition objectives.

The offshore wind auction is a nation-leading competitive procurement process designed to establish offshore wind generation at scale in Australia. The initiative seeks to support the delivery of large-scale renewable energy and diversify energy supply as coal-fired generation retires and electricity demand continues to grow.

MinterEllison was appointed by the State following a competitive tender process and has worked closely with the Victorian Government to develop the auction's legal framework, contractual support mechanism and implementation arrangements.

Fiona Lewis, Partner at MinterEllison, said:

"We've worked in close partnership with the Victorian Government on a number of significant energy transition initiatives and we are very proud to have advised on Australia's first offshore wind renewable energy auction."

"This project represents a major milestone for Victoria's renewable energy ambitions and the broader transformation of Australia's energy system. The auction creates a pathway for delivering offshore wind generation at scale while supporting investment certainty and long-term value for the State."

MinterEllison is proud to advise the Victorian Government on major energy and climate-related projects. The firm has previously advised on the Victorian Renewable Energy Target auctions, the Victorian Big Battery and other significant renewable energy and energy storage initiatives.

The MinterEllison team was led by Fiona Lewis (Partner), Alexandra Consiglio (Senior Associate), Emma Ryan (Special Counsel), Francesco Barrese (Associate) and Madison Wynen (Lawyer). They were supported by specialists from across the firm's Energy, Resources and Projects, Construction, Competition, Finance, Technology, Insurance and Employment teams.