Locating Offshore Wind in Australia: Fostering grid readiness and local benefits

Offshore wind holds immense potential for driving Australia’s energy transition if we get the siting of infrastructure and its integration into the energy system right.

In this webinar, IUCN Vice President Peter Cochrane will set the stage by highlighting the importance of balancing renewable energy development with biodiversity conservation and community well-being. He will emphasise IUCN’s commitment to nature-positive solutions in the deployment of offshore wind and reflect on Australia’s role in reaching climate and biodiversity goals.

Following this, Professor Sven Teske from the Institute for Sustainable Futures (UTS) will present a comprehensive analysis of Australia’s offshore wind potential, its possible future contribution to power generation, and favourable locations for offshore wind farms from both technical and economic perspectives. He will explore how spatial optimisation can guide the development of offshore wind in ways that are efficient, fair, and aligned with climate and biodiversity goals. Focusing on Australia’s coastal regions, particularly those with existing or retiring coal infrastructure, Professor Teske will outline the strategic benefits of collocating offshore wind near established grid assets. He will also share insights into how good planning can reduce costs, accelerate deployment, and support regional communities.

This session aligns closely with the vision behind GINGR, a platform designed to help measure progress toward a Nature- and People-Positive energy system. Together, technological innovation and performance metrics can support the deployment of offshore wind projects that are not only technically sound but also contribute positively to biodiversity and local communities.

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Webinar Speakers

Peter Cochrane

Peter has over twenty years of senior executive leadership experience across public and private sectors with a strong focus on environment and sustainability. Currently Vice President of the IUCN Council (elected from Oceania) and an Adjunct Fellow at the Australian National University, Peter also chairs the Steering Committee of the National Environmental Science Program’s Marine Biodiversity Hub. He is a Director of Ecotourism Australia and Tangaroa Blue Foundation and has played pivotal roles in developing Nature-Positive approaches in conservation and renewable energy.

Dr. Sven Teske

Dr. Teske is a Professor and Research Director at the Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney, leading research on energy decarbonisation pathways to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. With over 30 years of experience in renewable energy policy and grid integration, Dr. Teske has authored more than 50 major reports and several books, including two volumes of Achieving the Paris Climate Agreement Goals. His work has contributed to national energy plans worldwide and has been showcased at numerous UN Climate Conferences.