Closed

Blue Mackerel Offshore Wind Project

Tender ID: 592599

Tender Details

Organisation:

Blue Mackerel North Pty Ltd

Tender #:

Status:

Closed

Publish Date:

19 August 2025

Closing Date:

20 October 2025

Tender Description

Overview

Backed by two of the world's leading energy companies, Blue Mackerel is strongly positioned to be one of Australia's first offshore wind projects.

Located approximately 10km off the Gippsland coast between Seaspray and Woodside Beach, the project is targeting delivery by 2032. At up to 1GW, it could generate enough electricity to power up to 750,000 Victorian homes.

By delivering large-scale renewable energy, the project is set to generate meaningful employment, investment, and supply chain opportunities across the region.

Project Overview

Blue Mackerel is being developed by JERA Nex bp - a 50:50 joint venture between JERA Co. and bp.

With more than 15 years' global experience in offshore wind, JERA Nex bp is one of the world's largest offshore wind developers, owners and operators. The company's combined portfolio includes approximately 13GW of net potential generating capacity: around 1GW of installed capacity, 7.5GW in development, and 4.5GW from secured leases.

JERA Nex bp draws on the strength of two world-leading companies- JERA Nex's track record in delivering and operating offshore wind projects with bp's extensive development portfolio and offshore energy expertise.

The project is committed to partnering with the Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation, Traditional Owners, First Nations businesses, local communities, and Gippsland-based suppliers to ensure local participation and long-term benefits.

Blue Mackerel acknowledges the Gunaikurnai as the Traditional Custodians of Gippsland and pays respect to Elders past and present.

More information: Blue Mackerel website [Blue Mackerel], JNBP website [JERA Nex bp offshore wind developers, owners and operators]

Timing: Blue Mackerel is currently in the early planning and feasibility phase, following the award of a feasibility licence (FL001) in April 2024 for a 163 km area within the Gippsland Declared Offshore Wind Zone. A 7-year feasibility period is now underway, during which Blue Mackerel will conduct environmental studies, planning assessments, community engagement and regulatory approvals before construction can begin.

Subject to approvals and final investment, construction would commence in 2029 with first power targeted for 2032.

Progress to Date

Already, Blue Mackerel has made significant progress:

First Management Plan for offshore wind activities to be approved by the new Offshore Infrastructure Regulator

Geophysical and Geotechnical Marine Surveys (completed March 2025): These works gathered deep and shallow seabed data to inform foundation and cable design.

Wind and Wave Monitoring (deployed March 2025): A FLiDAR buoy and wave buoy are collecting long-term wind and metocean data.

Environmental Monitoring Campaign (commenced July 2025): Includes aerial marine mammal surveys and deployment of Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) equipment to gather two years of environmental baseline data.

Opportunities for Suppliers

Our vision is to grow a strong Australian offshore wind supply chain. That means creating opportunities for Gippsland-based, Victorian and Australian businesses across various stages of the project.

The above studies will support early engineering studies, which will inform early design concepts, construction methods, risk management strategies, and detailed work package planning. The process of concept and preliminary design is designated as Pre-FEED (Pre- Front End Engineering Design). Pre-FEED works will support:

a. Key design decisions,

b. Risk assessment and mitigation,

c. Project scope break-down to work packages/lots ,

d. Approach to the construction execution and operations phase and

e. Precise cost estimates.

The ongoing Pre-FEED works are assisting the identification of work packages-lots ( ref. (c) above). The following main work packages have been identified to date:

1. Foundations fabrication

2. Foundations Transport and Installation (T&I)

3. Onshore Substation supply and construction

4. Onshore underground cables supply and installation

5. Landfall-Shore crossing (HDD-Horizontal directional drilling) for cables

6. Offshore Substation fabrication

7. Offshore Substation Transport and Installation (T&I)

8. Offshore Export cables supply

9. Offshore Inter-Array cables supply

10. Offshore Export and Inter Array Cables T&I

11. Wind Turbine Generators (WTGs) supply , T&I and maintenance

12. Operations and Maintenance (O&M)

Engineering works to further break down (WBS -Work Breakdown Structure) the Blue Mackerel project scope and identify supply categories and work elements is still in progress.

Work Packages	Closing
Cables	20 Oct 2025
Civil and Mechanical Works	20 Oct 2025
Civil works required for installation of offshore cable system	20 Oct 2025
Davit Crane	20 Oct 2025
Detailed Electrical Design	20 Oct 2025
Enabling Works	20 Oct 2025
HV Cables Installation	20 Oct 2025
Marking and Lighting systems	20 Oct 2025
Onshore Cables (HV) Civils and Installation	20 Oct 2025
Onshore Substation	20 Oct 2025
Protection and control systems	20 Oct 2025
Reinstatement and rehabilitation of disturbed areas	20 Oct 2025
SCADA systems and associated cabling	20 Oct 2025
Site Investigations	20 Oct 2025
Site security	20 Oct 2025
Testing and Commissioning	20 Oct 2025

Express interest for any opportunities that may arise for this project.

Location

Victoria : Barwon South West : Gippsland : Grampians : Hume : Loddon Mallee : Melbourne

Blue Mackerel Offshore Wind Project

Tender Details

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