ACEN Australia has received federal government approval for its 900MW Robbins Island wind project in the state of Tasmania.
The A$3bn ($1.96bn) project will generate sufficient power for 500,000 homes and create 400 construction jobs.
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It will contribute A$30m annually to the Tasmanian economy, alongside a community benefits programme worth A$27m for the Circular Head region.
ACEN Australia managing director David Pollington described the approval as a “key achievement” for the company and the Tasmanian economy.
The approval follows an eight-year assessment process involving detailed studies of Robbins Island’s natural environment.
The project aims to provide jobs, training and long-term benefits to the community while offering low-cost baseload generation supported by hydroelectric power.
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By GlobalDataThis arrangement allows hydro to function as flexible on-demand generation and storage, rather than traditional baseload generation.
The transmission line required to connect the wind project to the grid is undergoing a separate approvals process, which is expected to conclude in 2026.
This timeline positions the project to begin generating power by 2030.
The Robbins Island project will assist both state and federal governments in achieving their legislated emissions targets, including Tasmania’s objective to double clean energy production by 2040.
The project will generate 30% more power than the average Australian wind project of similar size.
Pollington stated: “The decision shows that large, complex projects can be delivered responsibly, balancing overall impacts and conserving biodiversity, with the need for clean energy to address climate change.
“It comes at a time when Australia faces a stalling energy transition and looming power shortages as coal exits the system.
“It also reflects the depth and rigour of ACEN’s work to address the assessment criteria and scrutiny applied through the approvals process.”
ACEN will now focus on navigating the detailed approval conditions to assess their impact on project design and ongoing environmental monitoring, while preparing for the transmission proposal assessment in 2026.
Pollington added: “The project supports Australia’s climate commitments, providing a lowest-cost clean alternative to fossil fuels in time to meet supply shortages.
“This is particularly important for Victoria, which will lose half of its coal generation by 2035, making investment in Marinus Link and the North West Transmission Developments a smart and timely move.”
