Star of the South has identified significant opportunities for Australian steel makers and fabricators following a national tour of manufacturing facilities. The offshore wind project visited sites in the Latrobe Valley, Geelong, Bendigo, Melbourne, Illawarra, Hunter and Perth to assess current capabilities and determine which components can be produced locally.
The project team concluded that the fabrication of detailed secondary steel components offers the strongest prospects. These items, include platforms, walkways, ladders, railings and tubes. Around 300 tonnes of such components per turbine could be produced in Australia using existing skills and facilities.
Star of the South has worked with domestic steel suppliers and fabricators since 2021 to map opportunities and align manufacturing potential with project needs. Recent tours included participation from a steel mill, foundation designer and a foundation supplier from Europe. The foundation designer will incorporate findings from the visits when refining foundation specifications to better match Australian standards.
The project follows a ‘look local first’ procurement approach, with a focus on Gippsland. Star of the South is planned at up to 2.2 GW. The project has completed feasibility and environmental studies, supply chain and workforce assessments, and broad community engagement. Applications for Commonwealth and Victorian approvals are expected this year, alongside participation in Victoria’s first offshore wind auction. Construction is targeted later in the decade if approvals and auction outcomes are secured.
