Damon Mcknight
Australia has been taking steps to increase its wind energy capacity, 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 a major exporter of coal and the fifth-highest per capita emitter of greenhouse gases, Australia is one of the countries most at risk from climate change. To address this, the Federal Government designated the Bass Strait off Gippsland as the country's first offshore wind zone in December 2022, and the Victorian Government has set ambitious targets for offshore wind power. While wind turbine manufacturing in Australia has been limited due to high labour costs and greater industry support in other countries, there is a growing push for local supply agreements and increased domestic manufacturing to support the expanding wind energy sector.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Wind power as % of Australia's electricity production | 13.4% (31.9 TWh) in 2024 |
| Largest wind farm | Coopers Gap Wind Farm in Queensland |
| First commercial wind farm | Salmon Beach Wind Farm, near Esperanza in Western Australia |
| Wind turbine component manufacturing | Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia |
| Turbine suppliers | GE Vernova, Vestas, RPG Australia, Keppel Prince, Crisp Bros and Hayward |
| Turbine capacity | 6 MW, 3 MW |
| Wind energy advantages | Cost-efficient, lower operating expenses, reduces greenhouse gas emissions |
| Wind energy disadvantages | High initial capital investment, shorter operational lifespan |
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What You'll Learn
Wind turbine manufacturing history in Australia
Australia has abundant wind resources, with its southern coastline in the Roaring Forties, providing average wind speeds above 8–9 m/s at turbine hub height. In 2024, wind power accounted for 13.4% of Australia's total electricity production, with 90 operational wind farms totalling 11,420 MW in capacity.
Despite this, Australia has little experience in wind turbine parts manufacturing. In the early 2000s, Vestas, a Danish company, attempted to set up two manufacturing plants in Victoria, but these plans were rejected by the Coalition government. Another company, Keppel Prince, based in Victoria, has been manufacturing wind turbine towers and continues to maintain a presence in the tower manufacturing process. RPG Australia has also produced towers. However, historically, there has been minimal local manufacturing due to the high cost of labour in Australia and greater industry support in other countries.
In 2013, Keppel Prince successfully lobbied the Australian Anti-Dumping Commission to impose increased tariffs on wind turbine towers manufactured in Asia, in an effort to reduce the rate of imported wind turbine components. In 2016, the chairman of Suzlon Energy suggested that Australia could and should manufacture its own wind turbines, citing the lower cost of wind project development as a benefit.
In 2018, the Victorian Government signed contracts with six solar and wind farms to provide renewable power to 640,000 homes by 2020, and the state government's increased Victorian Renewable Energy Targets (VRET) may make local wind turbine manufacturing more viable. In 2020, Western Australia also launched a study into the feasibility of producing wind turbine components locally, which would be a first for the state and a rarity for Australia. This initiative aims to boost local manufacturing, employment, and investment, and create jobs in both metropolitan and regional areas.
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Current wind turbine manufacturing companies in Australia
Australia has abundant wind resources, and wind power accounted for 13.4% of the country's total electricity production in 2024. The country is also one of the major exporters of coal and the highest per capita emitter of greenhouse gases among industrialised countries. As such, there is a growing need for renewable energy sources in Australia, and wind energy is one of the most cost-efficient renewable energy sources.
Despite the existence of greater industry support in other countries, some wind turbine components have been manufactured in Australia. For instance, Vestas produced nacelles and blades in the early 2000s, RPG Australia produced towers, and Keppel Prince is still involved in tower manufacturing.
- Vestas Wind Systems A/S: Vestas, a global company, has previously manufactured wind turbine components in Australia and continues to operate in the country.
- Suzlon Energy Australia (SEA): SEA has the capability to supply and install complete wind turbine solutions. Its operational headquarters are in Melbourne, Victoria, and it provides various services, including business development, supply chain management, engineering support, and 24/7 systems monitoring. Suzlon has a dominant presence in India, providing comprehensive project execution capabilities and end-to-end solutions for wind and solar power.
- Goldwind Australia: Established in 2009, Goldwind is a leading renewable energy solutions provider, contributing 2GW of emission-free power generation in Australia and New Zealand. They offer a range of services, including investment, planning, design, construction, and maintenance for wind power projects.
- Keppel Prince: Keppel Prince has been involved in the wind turbine tower manufacturing process and has taken initiatives to support local manufacturers, such as lodging an application with the Australian Anti-Dumping Commission to impose increased tariffs on imported towers.
- Tilt Renewables: Tilt Renewables is a key competitor in the Australian wind energy market, investing in large-scale wind farms and renewable energy projects.
- WestWind Energy Australia: WestWind Energy Australia is another major entity in the Australian wind energy sector, driving infrastructure development for wind energy production.
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Wind energy in Australia
Wind energy is one of Australia's main sources of renewable energy. In 2018, wind energy generated enough electricity to meet 7.1% of the nation's total electricity demand. By 2024, wind power accounted for 13.4% of Australia's total electricity production.
Australia has some of the best wind resources in the world, particularly in the southern parts of the continent, which lie in the path of the westerly wind flow known as the "roaring 40s". The southern coastline has average wind speeds above 8-9 m/s at turbine hub height. Coastal regions with high wind resources (wind speeds above 7.5 m/s) include the west coast south of Shark Bay to Cape Leeuwin, along the Great Australian Bight and the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia, western Victoria, and the west coast of Tasmania. Good wind resources extend hundreds of kilometres inland, and many of Australia's wind farms (current and planned) are located some distance from the coast.
Australia's first commercial wind farm, Salmon Beach Wind Farm, near Esperanza in Western Australia, operated for 15 years from 1987 but was decommissioned due to urban encroachment. As of 2025, all of Australia's wind capacity is designated as onshore wind, with the largest wind farm being Coopers Gap Wind Farm in Queensland, which began generating power in June 2019 with a capacity of 453 MW. In December 2022, the Federal Government designated the Bass Strait off Gippsland as Australia's first offshore wind zone.
Wind energy is one of the lowest-cost sources of new electricity supply in Australia, along with utility-scale solar PV. By 2014, wind had the lowest levelised cost of energy (LCOE) of any power source in Australia. A 2012 study by SKM on the economic benefits of wind farms in Australia found that, for every 50 MW in capacity, a wind farm delivered various benefits. Wind energy is also an important part of Australia's transition to net-zero emissions, with solar and wind generation exceeding household demand as the transition gathers pace.
There have been some efforts to manufacture wind turbines in Australia. For example, Vestas produced nacelles and blades in Australia in the early 2000s, and RPG Australia produced towers. However, there has historically been minimal local manufacturing due to the high cost of labour in Australia and greater industry support in other countries. In 2016, the chairman and managing director of Suzlon Energy suggested that Australia could and should manufacture its own wind turbines, citing the benefit of lower costs for wind project development.
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The future of wind turbine manufacturing in Australia
Australia is the fifth-highest per capita emitter of greenhouse gases, with 25.8 tonnes of CO2-e per person annually. It is also one of the countries most at risk from climate change, according to the Stern report. As a result, the country has been working towards a transition to renewable energy, with wind power accounting for 13.4% of its total electricity production in 2024.
The Victorian Government has also shown strong support for renewable energy initiatives, signing contracts with six solar and wind farms in 2018 to provide renewable power to 640,000 Victorian homes by 2020. The state has also set local content requirements for state-funded renewable energy projects through the Local Jobs First Policy, providing certainty for businesses looking to invest in the sector.
Additionally, the Western Australian government has commissioned a feasibility study into manufacturing wind turbine components locally, and the Queensland government has updated its Advanced Manufacturing Roadmap to reflect its target of obtaining 80% of its energy from renewables by 2035. These initiatives, along with federal government funding for the commercialisation of domestic manufacturing of renewable energy technologies, are expected to boost the local wind turbine manufacturing industry.
However, there are challenges to be addressed. Australian wind tower producers are concerned about losing out to cheaper overseas alternatives, and companies like Keppel Prince have expressed the need for demand guarantees before investing in offshore wind tower production facilities. Despite these challenges, the increasing investment in renewables and the abundant wind resources in Australia provide a positive outlook for the future of wind turbine manufacturing in the country.
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The economic impact of wind turbines in Australia
Australia has abundant wind resources, and wind power is an increasingly significant part of the country's renewable energy sector. In 2024, wind power accounted for 13.4% of Australia's total electricity production. Most of the country's wind farms are situated in coastal areas, with the largest being Coopers Gap Wind Farm in Queensland, which has a capacity of 453 MW.
Wind energy is an inexhaustible and renewable source of energy that does not emit toxic substances or generate waste. It also has a low water consumption footprint. Wind farms can be effectively placed offshore, and in December 2022, the Federal Government designated the Bass Strait off Gippsland as Australia's first offshore wind zone.
The manufacturing of wind turbines in Australia has historically been minimal due to the high cost of labour and greater industry support in other countries. However, there have been efforts to increase local manufacturing. For example, in 2013, Keppel Prince successfully lobbied the Australian Anti-Dumping Commission to impose increased tariffs on wind turbine towers manufactured in Asia. In recent years, growing investment in renewables, spurred on by government initiatives and increased renewable energy targets, has made the local manufacture of wind turbines more viable.
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Frequently asked questions
Wind turbine components are currently being manufactured in Victoria, with manufacturing initiatives also underway in Western Australia and Queensland. Turbine components have been manufactured in Australia in the past, for example, Vestas produced nacelles and blades in the early 2000s.
Wind power accounted for 13.4% of Australia's total electricity production in 2024. Australia is the fifth-highest per capita emitter of greenhouse gases, and wind energy is one of the most cost-efficient renewable energy sources.
Manufacturing wind turbines in Australia would reduce the country's reliance on overseas supply chains and support the transition to a green energy superpower. It would also create local jobs and support investment in renewable energy projects.
The high cost of labour in Australia and the existence of greater industry support in other countries have made it challenging for local manufacturers to compete with imported wind turbine components. There is also a lack of Australian companies with the ability to build offshore towers.
