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Reshaping Gippsland's workforce with offshore wind

Speaking at the recent APAC Wind Energy Summit in Melbourne, Ørsted’s Head of Generation Development Alfonso Ma-Tay said Gippsland communities are leading the way in making sure they are well prepared for the exciting future that lies ahead.
Orsted’s Head of Generation Development Alfonso Ma-Tay speaking at the APAC Wind Energy Summit in Melbourne
Orsted’s Head of Generation Development Alfonso Ma-Tay speaking at the APAC Wind Energy Summit in Melbourne
“The transition to clean energy is different for every community and will certainly have challenges to overcome, but we’ve seen so many regional areas around the world undergo a transformation with the introduction of offshore wind,” he said.

“As a long-term build-own-operate developer, we know that the only way we can succeed is by working with Gippsland education providers to make sure local people are ready to be part of our projects.

“Many people might say that this is a long way away, and that construction has to come first – but really, it’s the operations and maintenance workforce opportunities that will give the most back to the region, as the lifespan of wind farms run between 30 and 40 years.

“It is the operations and maintenance base that becomes the epicentre for long-term economic growth in the local community as it drives the need for local jobs and procurement of goods and services locally,” he said.

Alfonso also stresses that long-term thinking is required, “down to getting kids thinking about their career paths by building green energy into education, making sure there’s the right training offered at the right times, and working with local people to find solutions that work for Gippsland”.
Orsted’s Head of Generation Development Alfonso Ma-Tay speaking to a recent Australian delegation at the Taichung operations and maintenance base
Ørsted’s Head of Generation Development Alfonso Ma-Tay speaking at the APAC Wind Energy Summit in Melbourne
“As an example in our Asia Pacific region, more than 80 local people are directly employed in the day-to-day running of Ørsted’s current operations and maintenance base in a regional area of Taiwan, with many others in supporting roles, supporting an operating 920MW offshore wind project in the Taiwan Strait. These roles range from administration, marine traffic control, grid control & monitoring, engineering, QHSE, IT, facility and logistics.”

“With so many fantastic local people working away on making this a reality here, we’re really positive that Gippsland will maximise every opportunity to make this happen”.

“We can’t wait to see offshore wind take off in Australia, and for Gippsland to be driving the journey”.