We’re providing planning and advisory services for the Star of the South (SOTS) project, Australia’s most advanced offshore wind farm.
Next generation power solution
SOTS is an offshore wind project proposed off the coast of Gippsland, Victoria. The project is progressing under a feasibility licence across a 586 km² area, located approximately 10 km from the coast at its closest point.
SOTS could include up to 150 turbines, and at full capacity, it has the potential to generate up to 2.2 GW of electricity, enough to power around 1.2 million homes across Victoria. The project is also expected to create up to 6,000 Australian jobs over its lifetime and deliver billions in local investment. Leading the approvals process
The construction, operation and decommissioning of the wind farm is subject to comprehensive environmental and planning assessment, approval, and licensing processes. In 2019, AECOM was engaged as the lead approvals consultant to support the project’s development. Working closely with regulatory agencies, we led the development of the approvals strategy, including the adoption of a project design envelope approach through impact assessment.
We are also preparing the Environment Effects Statement (EES) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) documentation, helping to ensure the project meets environmental requirements and community expectations.
Our work so far has included collecting environmental data to inform environmental impact assessments, incorporating feedback from the stakeholders into project planning, and supporting the development of the underground cable connection to the proposed VicGrid hub, in collaboration with landholders along the route.
We have also undertaken studies that informed key design decisions aimed at reducing environmental impact. These include avoiding high-profile reefs on the seafloor and using a no-trench construction method where cables come to shore to protect the beach and dunes above. Additionally, we provided bird flight height data that contributed to increasing the clearance between the ocean surface and turbine blades from 25 to 35 metres, helping to create a safer zone for seabirds to fly and forage.
A clear pathway forward
Our work is helping to establish a clear pathway for the project to obtain the required planning and environmental approvals. This is enabling SOTS to actively manage approvals risks and continue progressing with greater confidence.
Environmental and planning assessments are ongoing and are expected to conclude in 2026. Subject to approvals, construction could begin later this decade, with first power targeted around 2030, supporting Victoria’s goal of 2 GW of offshore wind by 2032.