Lyla Lindsey
Australia is one of the countries most at risk from climate change, and wind power is a key part of its renewable energy sector. In 2024, wind power accounted for 13.4% of Australia's total electricity production. However, Australia has historically had minimal local manufacturing of wind turbines due to the high cost of labour and greater industry support in other countries. This article will explore the question of whether wind turbines can be made in Australia and discuss the opportunities and challenges for the country's renewable energy sector.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Wind power as a percentage of Australia's total electricity production in 2024 | 13.4% (or 31.9 TWh) |
| Location of most of Australia's wind farms | Coastal areas |
| The largest wind farm in Australia | Coopers Gap Wind Farm in Queensland |
| Australia's first commercial wind farm | Salmon Beach Wind Farm, near Esperanza in Western Australia |
| Australia's ranking as a per capita emitter of greenhouse gases | 5th highest with 25.8 tonne CO2-e per person annually |
| Ranking of Australia in total country emissions | 16th with 495 Mt CO2-e per annum |
| Wind turbine component manufacturing in Australia | Victoria, Western Australia, Queensland |
| Companies manufacturing wind turbine components in Australia | Vestas, RPG Australia, Keppel Prince, Crisp Bros and Hayward |
| GE Vernova's wind turbine supply in Australia | More than 250 turbines in operation or under construction |
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What You'll Learn
Wind turbine manufacturing history in Australia
Australia has been working to develop its wind energy sector, with wind power accounting for 13.4% of the country's total electricity production in 2024. The country has abundant wind resources, particularly along its southern coastline, which has average wind speeds above 8-9 m/s at turbine hub height. As of 2025, all of Australia's wind capacity is onshore, but the Federal Government designated the Bass Strait off Gippsland as its first offshore wind zone in December 2022.
Historically, there has been minimal local manufacturing of wind turbines in Australia due to the high cost of labour and greater industry support in other countries. However, some companies have manufactured components, such as Vestas, which produced nacelles and blades in the early 2000s, and RPG Australia, which produced towers. Keppel Prince, another Australian company, has maintained a presence in the tower manufacturing process and successfully lobbied for increased tariffs on wind turbine towers manufactured in Asia in 2013.
In recent years, there has been a growing interest in establishing local supply chains for wind turbine components in Australia. The Victorian Government has shown support for renewable energy initiatives, signing contracts with six solar and wind farms in 2018 to provide renewable power to 640,000 homes by 2020. Additionally, the Western Australian government commissioned a feasibility study into manufacturing wind turbine components locally in 2023, and the Queensland government updated its Advanced Manufacturing Roadmap to include a target of getting 80% of its energy from renewables by 2035.
Despite these efforts, Australian wind tower producers continue to face challenges due to the higher costs of local manufacturing compared to cheaper overseas alternatives. Companies like Keppel Prince have advocated for local supply agreements and longer-term demand guarantees to justify the significant investments required for offshore wind tower production.
Overall, Australia is working towards increasing its wind turbine manufacturing capabilities and transitioning to a green energy superpower. With growing investment in renewables and initiatives like the National Reconstruction Fund, there is optimism for the future of wind turbine manufacturing in the country.
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Australian wind tower producers
Australia has abundant wind resources, and wind power accounted for 13.4% of the country's total electricity production in 2024. The country has a growing renewable energy sector, with wind farms springing up across its southern coastline, which has average wind speeds above 8-9 m/s at turbine hub height.
While Australia has the capacity to manufacture wind turbine components, most wind towers are currently imported from overseas, particularly Vietnam and China, where labour and supplies are cheaper. However, there have been some efforts by local manufacturers to reduce the rate of imported wind turbine components. For instance, Keppel Prince successfully lobbied the Australian Anti-Dumping Commission in 2013 to impose increased tariffs on wind turbine towers manufactured in Asia.
Keppel Prince, a leading Australian wind tower producer, has expressed interest in investing in offshore wind tower production facilities. However, they require a guarantee of demand over an extended period to justify the investment, which could cost hundreds of millions of dollars. The company's factory is strategically located near the Southern Ocean offshore wind zone, a 5,100-square-kilometre wind energy area proposed by the federal government.
Another Australian company, RPG Australia, has also been involved in producing wind towers. Additionally, Vestas manufactured nacelles and blades in Australia in the early 2000s.
There is a growing call from wind tower producers and unions for local supply agreements and procurement requirements to ensure Australian businesses are not overlooked in favour of cheaper overseas alternatives during the country's renewable energy transition. This includes support from the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union, which has lobbied governments to put local procurement requirements in place for both labour and materials, creating certainty for businesses and leading to increased employment opportunities.
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Wind energy in Australia
Australia has been increasingly investing in wind energy in recent years. In 2024, wind power accounted for 13.4% of the country's total electricity production. The largest wind farm in Australia is the Coopers Gap Wind Farm in Queensland, which has a capacity of 453 MW. Australia has also been home to GE Vernova for over 125 years, which has supplied more than 250 wind turbines to the country.
While wind energy in Australia is still largely onshore, the Federal Government designated the Bass Strait off Gippsland as the country's first offshore wind zone in December 2022. This move towards offshore wind energy has led to discussions about the manufacturing of wind turbine components onshore. Star of the South, the developer of Australia's most advanced offshore wind farm, has expressed interest in domestic manufacturing and is exploring opportunities to support the country's pipeline of wind energy projects.
Historically, there has been minimal local manufacturing of wind turbines in Australia due to the high cost of labour and greater industry support in other countries. However, some companies, such as Keppel Prince and Crisp Bros and Hayward, have produced wind turbine components and towers locally. In 2013, Keppel Prince successfully lobbied the Australian Anti-Dumping Commission to impose increased tariffs on wind turbine towers manufactured in Asia.
The Victorian Government has shown strong support for renewable energy, signing contracts with six solar and wind farms in 2018 to provide renewable power to 640,000 homes by 2020. The state has also set local content requirements for state-funded renewable energy projects through the Local Jobs First Policy. Additionally, the Queensland Government has updated its 10-year Advanced Manufacturing Roadmap to include a target of obtaining 80% of its energy from renewables by 2035.
Australia's transition to renewable energy and wind power is crucial, as the country is a major exporter of coal and the sixteenth-highest emitter of greenhouse gases globally. While wind farms have faced some opposition due to landscape and heritage concerns, the environmental benefits of wind energy far outweigh the impacts of coal and gas power generation.
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Wind farms in Australia
Australia has a growing wind farm sector, with wind energy being one of the country's main sources of renewable energy. By the end of 2018, there were 94 wind farms in Australia, delivering nearly 16 GW of wind generation capacity. This accounted for 7.1% of the nation's total electricity demand.
Wind farms have been an established part of electricity generation in Australia for many years, with the country's first commercial wind farm, Salmon Beach Wind Farm, operating for 15 years from 1987. The largest wind farm in Australia is currently the Coopers Gap Wind Farm in Queensland, which began generating power for the grid in June 2019 and has a capacity of 453 MW.
Most of Australia's wind farms are situated in coastal areas, with South Australia possessing 54% of the country's installed wind capacity, despite comprising only 7.2% of the population. Victoria is also a leader in wind energy, with the Victorian Government signing contracts with six solar and wind farms in 2018 to provide renewable power to 640,000 homes by 2020. The Victorian Government has also legislated targets for offshore wind power, aiming for 2GW by 2032 and 9GW by 2040.
There have been some efforts to manufacture wind turbines locally in Australia, with companies like Vestas, RPG Australia, and Keppel Prince producing components such as nacelles, blades, and towers. However, high labour costs and greater industry support in other countries have historically made local manufacturing less viable. Despite this, growing investment in renewables and initiatives to promote renewable energy may make the local manufacture of wind turbines more feasible in the future.
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The future of wind turbine manufacturing in Australia
Australia has long been a major exporter of coal, but it is also one of the countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. As such, there is a growing focus on renewable energy sources, including wind power.
Wind power accounted for 13.4% of Australia's total electricity production in 2024, and the country has abundant wind resources, particularly along its southern coastline, which has average wind speeds above 8-9 m/s at turbine height. Most of Australia's wind farms are situated in coastal areas, and the largest wind farm is Coopers Gap Wind Farm in Queensland, with a capacity of 453 MW.
In 2023, the Western Australian government commissioned an independent feasibility study into manufacturing wind turbine components locally as part of a $10 million Wind Turbine Manufacturing initiative. The federal government has also allocated $14.8 million for a Powering Australia Industry Growth Centre to support the commercialisation of domestic manufacturing of renewable energy technologies.
There is also support for local supply agreements and procurement requirements to ensure Australian businesses do not lose out to cheaper overseas alternatives. Australian companies that have manufactured onshore wind towers include Keppel Prince and Crisp Bros and Hayward in Tasmania. However, these companies have faced challenges due to the higher costs of local manufacturing compared to importing from overseas.
Overall, the future of wind turbine manufacturing in Australia looks positive, with government initiatives, growing investment in renewables, and a focus on supporting local manufacturing. However, there are also challenges, including the high cost of labour in Australia and competition from overseas manufacturers.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, wind turbines are made in Australia. The country has been using wind power since 1987 when its first commercial wind farm, Salmon Beach Wind Farm, began operating.
Coopers Gap Wind Farm in Queensland is the largest wind farm in Australia, with a capacity of 453 MW. The second largest wind farm is the Boulder Creek Wind Farm, which is expected to supply power to 85,000 homes.
Wind power accounted for 13.4% of Australia's total electricity production in 2024.
Wind energy is one of the most cost-efficient renewable energy sources in Australia. It also helps to reduce the country's greenhouse gas emissions, as it is a major exporter of coal.
One challenge is the high cost of labour in Australia, which has led to a minimal local manufacturing presence in the past. Landscape and heritage issues have also been a concern for certain wind farms, and some people object to wind farms on aesthetic grounds.
