Australia’s first offshore wind project wins industry collaboration award
26 August 2021
Star of the South together with Australian supplier TEK-Ocean and European offshore wind specialist Akrocean have taken out the 2021 Australian Subsea Business Award for Industry Collaboration.
Presented by Subsea Energy Australia, the annual awards recognise the best contributions and talents of the subsea and ocean energy industry.
Star of the South, TEK-Ocean and Akrocean have been working together since 2019, when Star of the South procured LiDAR wind and wave monitoring buoys from France based Akrocean.
With no existing offshore wind industry in Australia these monitors were not available locally, nor were local suppliers trained to operate and maintain this specialist equipment.
Local company TEK-Ocean, with years of experience working in Gippsland servicing the Bass Strait oil and gas sector, teamed up with Akrocean to provide support.
Akrocean technicians travelled over to install the equipment and run training sessions with TEK-Ocean who have been operating and maintaining the equipment for almost two years.
Working together, the three companies created a unique opportunity for the latest international technology to be paired with local knowledge and capability – helping to grow Australia’s offshore wind industry.
TEK-Ocean and Akrocean have developed a successful partnership and are now aiming to work together on Australia’s offshore wind pipeline. With around 25 GW of offshore wind proposals around the country, there is real opportunity for long-term collaboration and knowledge sharing.
As Australia’s first offshore wind project progresses, there will be more opportunities for local suppliers to work with international companies to transfer skills and build a new local industry in Australia and Gippsland.
Star of the South is committed to creating local jobs and encourages businesses and suppliers interested in working with the project to register via its Industry Capability Network portal.
Quotes attributable to Star of the South CEO, Casper Frost Thorhauge
“We’re proud to win the Australian Subsea Business Award for Industry Collaboration with our partners TEK-Ocean and Akrocean.”
“It’s great to show how the local supply chain can work with Europe’s offshore wind specialists to build a new Australian industry.”
Quotes attributable to TEK-Ocean General Manager Operations, Jordan Glanville
“Our collaboration with Star of the South and Akrocean is an example of how we are sharing our local knowledge and transitioning skills to support a new offshore wind industry in Gippsland and Australia.”
Quotes attributable to Akrocean COO, Maxime Bellorge
“We value the opportunity to work with Star of the South and TEK-Ocean and have developed a strong partnership that allows us to provide specialist equipment, while training and upskilling local workers.”