A third wind farm planned for Australia’s first declared offshore wind zone has been abandoned, raising fears about whether Victoria will meet its offshore wind target.<\/p>\n
Energy giant AGL announced on Friday that it would not proceed with the 2.5-gigawatt Gippsland Skies offshore wind in Victoria’s east.<\/p>\n
Gippsland Skies was one of 11 projects granted a feasibility licence by the federal government in the Gippsland offshore wind zone.<\/p>\n
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Eleven projects received feasibility licences in the Gippsland Offshore Wind Zone. (Supplied: DCCEEW)<\/p>\n
AGL said it would abandon the proposal and focus on other projects.<\/p>\n
“AGL will prioritise options in its development pipeline of onshore wind, batteries, pumped hydro and gas firming projects,” a company spokesperson said.<\/p>\n
The project was in the early feasibility stage when the decision was taken.<\/p>\n
The ABC understands AGL’s decision was influenced by challenges faced by offshore wind globally, including in the United States.<\/p>\n
Third project abandoned<\/p>\n
Gippsland Skies is the third Gippsland offshore wind project to be abandoned this year.<\/p>\n
In October, German company RWE abandoned its plans to develop the 2GW Kent offshore wind farm<\/p>\n