Australia has plentiful opportunities in the rapidly growing offshore wind (OSW) energy market, but realising those opportunities requires support and investment from those with experience. The UK is the world’s second-largest OSW market: Arup worked with the UK government to analyse opportunities and gaps for the UK and Australia to develop together in this important sector.
Arup delivered a report analysing Australia’s opportunities and obstacles for developing OSW and for UK-Australia cooperation and collaboration. For example, we discovered that skill sharing is a key way the UK can work with Australia to develop OSW – skills such as engineering design, cable research and development, blade manufacturing, safety training and more are needed in Australia; expertise is available in the UK.
The analysis provides organisational opportunities for the UK in the Australian market, including exporting talent with specialist skills and knowledge and joint ventures with Australian entities to foster a robust supply chain. It also positions the UK as a potential exporter to Australia for components, including blades, inter-array cables, and future foundations and export cables, with the Free Trade Agreement presenting an economic advantage for both nations.
Australia has committed to net zero by 2050. Clean energy is a key element in meeting this target with offshore wind playing a major role. UK skills and experience can support the creation of a viable, vibrant, and sustainable offshore wind industry in Australia. We chose Arup for their global experience and in-depth local knowledge to deliver this report which highlights opportunities for this developing industry.”
Understanding gaps in Australia’s supply chain
The report takes a birds-eye view of the Australian OSW market, where analysis points to a robust demand for offshore wind with up to 40GW (30 + projects) by 2040. It evaluates the supply chain capabilities of both the UK and Australia, identifying strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for industry growth.
Our gap analysis identified notable disparities in the Australian supply chain capabilities for offshore wind (given the early nature of the market), offering a detailed comparison with the UK’s established expertise. Through this analysis, we discovered areas of potential support and opportunities to learn and benefit from cross nation collaboration.
We also identified other areas critical for localised Australian OSW development, including:
Heavy lift transport services to support the movement of OSW components.
Transport and installation services to support the market’s logistical demands, such as vessels and barges.
Offshore safety training to meet the demand for specialised training in line with global wind safety standards.
Onshore building contractors for the development, design and construction and operation support facilities.
Operations and maintenance developing vessel fleets and crew to oversee activities and enable efficient operations and maintenance of the wind farms.
The analysis provides organisational opportunities for the UK in the Australian market, including exporting talent with specialist skills and knowledge and joint ventures with Australian entities to foster a robust supply chain.
It also positions the UK as a potential exporter to Australia for components, including blades, inter-array cables, and future foundations and export cables. The Free Trade Agreement between Australia and the UK eliminates tariffs on offshore wind components, presenting an economic advantage for both nations.
The report underscores thorough skill sharing; the UK can significantly contribute to Australia’s offshore wind sector – skills such as engineering design, cable research and development, blade manufacturing, logistics and safety training. We found opportunities through migration, intellectual property sales, remote services, and royalty schemes in joint ventures.
What we delivered
Collaboration with the UK Government to determine opportunities in the Australian offshore wind market.
A report that specifies areas for future collaboration between the two nations.
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