Ørsted and JERA Nex bp (a joint venture between Japan’s JERA and UK-based bp) have applied for federal environmental approval under Australia’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act for their Gippsland 1 and Blue Mackerel offshore wind projects, respectively (Australia’s EPBC Act Public Portal, 06/02/2026). According to the Australia’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water’s (DCCEEW) website, the developers’ applications, including Environmental Impact Statements (EIS), are now open for public comment.
Off Gippsland (Victoria), Ørsted is developing two wind projects (Gippsland 1 and Gippsland 2) with a potential total capacity of 4.8 GW. The company’s application for environmental review covers Gippsland 1, a 2.8 GW offshore wind park, which could be built in phases. This news comes as Ørsted recently reported its 2025 annual results, stating that its strategic priority is now to increase its focus on offshore wind opportunities in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.
Also located off the Gippsland coast, JERA Nex bp's Blue Mackerel is planned to have an installed capacity of 1 GW. In December 2025, JERA Nex bp's Blue Mackerel offshore wind park was also awarded Major Project Status (MPS) by the federal government.
Ørsted and JERA Nex bp secured seven-year feasibility licences for their projects in April 2024, with Australia’s Offshore Infrastructure Regulator (OIR) approving the projects’ feasibility stage management plans at the beginning of 2025.
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