A leader in advancing our transition to new energy
Our Story
Gippsland has the potential to become a leader in renewable energy development and we can achieve this vision together.
We are dedicated to make it simple to find information on proposed renewable energy projects and reduce confusion. Information is not always easy to find so we have created this portal with the basic information and links to more extensive material to provide greater transparency.
Who's involved?
The Gippsland New Energy portal is a comprehensive resource designed to support the community’s understanding of the transition to renewable energy. Developed through extensive independent research, public surveys, and focus group interviews. The Wellington Shire’s Renewable Energy Forum, and the Wellington Renewable Energy Impact and Readiness Study played a crucial role in this process.
It was identified there was a need for a single-entry point for the community to access information on the renewable energy transition in Gippsland. Managed by Gippsland Climate Change Network, the portal has the support of various organizations, including the Latrobe Valley Authority, Wellington Shire, Latrobe City Council, VicGrid, Offshore Wind Energy Victoria (OWEV), industry proponents and the Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation.
The portal was launched at the Gippsland New Energy Conference (GNEC) in Wellington in 2023. The conference has grown to be the premier gathering for Australia’s regional leaders in the transition to renewable energy.
The Gippsland Offshore Wind Alliance launched at the GNEC24 in Latrobe City, aims to bring together a diverse group of partners under the leadership of the Committee for Gippsland (C4G) and the Gippsland Climate Change Network (GCCN) as positive influencers towards Gippsland leading offshore wind in Australia.
The focus of all three initiatives is to empower the community to become an active participant and to create a local platform for cooperative action to optimise opportunities for Gippsland in the once-in-a-life time transformation to renewable energy.
What does it mean to be in an energy ‘transition’?
Transition is a process of change. In Gippsland this will involve shifting from traditional industries to new, emerging industries; adopting sustainable practices; and adapting to new technologies and global trends. Moving from energy generation using fossil fuels to using renewable technologies is only a part of Gippsland’s transition.
It is vital that this change occurs in a fair and equitable way that prioritises the wellbeing of all members of the community. Regional transition requires collaboration between government, industry and community groups. We need to work together to identify opportunities and develop strategies to achieve a prosperous future. We want to create an economy that supports long-term benefits for everyone, regardless of their background or circumstances.
As LVA has now completed its task, Regional Development Victoria Gippsland now has carriage of the plan.
To find out more about Gippsland’s Transition, read the Latrobe Valley and Gippsland Transition Plan.
Gippsland’s energy generation past and looking to the future
Gippsland has a long and proud history as Victoria’s key energy producer.
It’s important that we take a moment to celebrate the legacy of the industries and workers that power industry, fuel vehicles, heat homes and keep the lights on. The Latrobe Vallery power stations video celebrating 40-year of Loy Yang captures that proud history.
Energy companies recognise that decarbonisation is crucial to meet our Victorian targets, and our global responsibilities to address the threat of climate change. It also brings substantial opportunities for new industries and to create the economic drivers for the future of Gippsland.
ENGIE is rehabilitating the former Hazelwood Mine and Power station to deliver a safe, stable, sustainable and non-polluting site that enables productive future uses. The Hazelwood Battery Energy Storage System (HBESS) forms part of ENGIE’s commitment to repurposing the site, which ENGIE has been rehabilitating since 2017. Link to Hazelwood Rehabilitation Project.
The AGL Loy Yang site will transition into the Latrobe Valley Integrated industrial low carbon energy hub, to support regional economic diversification and to create new employment opportunities. Link to AGL Climate Transition Action Plan
Yallourn has a proud heritage of 100 years in electricity generation. EnergyAustralia will retire Yallourn in mid-2028 and build new storage capacity through a 350 MW, four-hour, utility-scale battery project that will be completed by 2026. Link to EnergyAustralia Climate Transition Action Plan
Loy Yang B Power Station located in the Latrobe Valley, Alinta Energy’s owner, CTFE, acquired the station in January 2018.
It also operates a gas-fired power station, Bairnsdale supplies energy across Victoria’s East Gippsland region. Link to their Sustainability Reports.
Eventually all the mines will close and need to be rehabilitated. The Victorian Government Mine Land Rehabilitation Authority will be responsible to monitor the process.
Decommissioning in the Bass Strait
ExxonMobil Australia Pty Ltd. is the operator of the assets in Bass Strait that are part of the Gippsland Basin Joint Venture between Esso and Woodside Energy (Bass Strait) Pty Ltd (Woodside Energy) and the Kipper Unit Joint Venture (Esso, Woodside Energy, and MEPAU A Pty Ltd). These assets comprise 19 platforms with approximately 400 wells, six subsea facilities and more than 800 kilometres of subsea pipelines.
After delivering energy to Australia for over 50 years, many of the Bass Strait fields are now reaching the end of their productive life. As a result, Esso is undertaking the first Bass Strait decommissioning campaign. Activities proposed as part of the Decommissioning Campaign #1 Project include the removal of the topsides of up to 13 facilities, the removal of two monotowers and the removal of the upper jacket sections of up to 10 steel piled jacket (SPJ) facilities.
Esso has awarded an execution contract to a Heavy Lift Vessel (HLV) contractor, which along with support vessels, will be used to remove and transport the topsides and steel substructures via barges or heavy transport vessels to an Onshore Reception Centre within the existing Barry Beach Marine Terminal for dismantling. Once dismantled, materials will be transported from the Onshore Reception Centre to appropriate licenced facilities for recycling or disposal.
The dark legacy to Gippsland’s fossil fuel industry.
Burning coal is the single largest contributor to climate pollution in Australia.
The communities in the Latrobe Valley have been subjected to extreme air pollution and a huge health burden for generations.
The Latrobe Valley has long been linked to asbestos, with power stations primarily built using asbestos containing materials, as well as the housing for the SEC. Consequently, the Latrobe Valley has asbestos related disease above the national average.
During the 2014 Hazelwood mine fire, which burned for six weeks, releasing large amounts of smoke and pollutants, leading to higher rates of emergency presentations and hospital admissions for asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and other respiratory diseases. It also caused huge emotional distress and disruption to people’s lives.
There are so many reasons to transition away from fossil fuels to clean renewable energy.
