Alinta Energy investigates 1000 MW Spinifex Offshore Wind Farm

Three offshore wind turbines in the water against a blue sky.

07 December 2021

Alinta Energy today announced the potential for a 1000 MW wind farm to be established around 10km off the coast of Portland, in southwestern Victoria, that could supply the Portland Aluminium Smelter and east coast electricity grid.

Alinta Energy today announced the potential for a 1000 MW wind farm to be established around 10km off the coast of Portland, in southwestern Victoria, that could supply the Portland Aluminium Smelter and east coast electricity grid.

The Spinifex Offshore Wind Farm would connect to the grid via the smelter and would make the site among Australia's first smelters to be powered by up to 100 per cent renewables.

Up to $4 billion of investment would generate new wind farm construction and operation jobs and help secure jobs at the site. Kris Lynch, Alinta Energy's Head of Project Development, said that the next steps would be conducting wind monitoring, site surveys and kicking off consultation in the new year.

"Existing data suggest Portland Bay has an excellent wind resource that would be suitable to power offshore wind turbines. What we're doing now is deploying monitoring equipment to ensure that's also the case across the investigation area.

Spinifex acknowledges the Gunditjmara and Eastern Maar as Traditional Owners of the country on which the Project is proposed and respects them as the original custodians of the area’s land and waters, their unique ability to care for Country and deep spiritual connection to it.

Spinifex