Port Strategy Analysis for Offshore Wind Farm Construction in the Bass Strait Region, Australia

Abstract Australia’s Offshore wind industry is in its early stages of development and steadily advancing. The Bass Strait region (areas off the Gippsland coast and northern Tasmania) is one of the major offshore wind sites to develop. In Gippsland, twelve offshore wind projects have received feasibility licences from the government, with a planned total installed capacity of 25 GW. The projects will employ fixed-bottom turbines with individual capacities between 15 and 22 MW. Ports play a critical role in the offshore wind farm construction supply chain. Currently, four major ports are planned to support the Bass Strait offshore wind farm construction. An essential question arises over how these ports’ resources can sufficiently and efficiently support the installation of large-scale fixed-bottom turbines and streamline the supply chain. This paper aims to answering the question by analysing two port strategies: Independent Port Use Strategy (one port, one project) and Shared Port Use Strategy (integrating multiple projects across a network of ports). Results indicate that the shared port use strategy, which pools resources across four ports, enhances overall efficiency by enabling simultaneous construction of up to six projects, reducing cumulative timelines. However, efficiency gains diminish as project numbers exceed resource capacities, requiring alternative logistical solutions. The independent port use strategy, while facilitating faster completion of individual projects, is limited by sequential project commencement, leading to extended overall timelines for large-scale developments. The findings provide actionable insights for optimising port strategy selection in offshore wind construction, balancing resource allocation, project timelines, and scalability. These insights are particularly relevant for accelerating offshore wind deployment in Australia, ensuring a resilient and efficient supply chain to meet clean energy targets.