Aberdeen based Xodus has opened a new office in Melbourne, Australia to support the energy transition across the east coast of Australia.
The global energy consultancy entered the Australian energy market since it first established a presence in Perth in 2007.
The decision to open a second base was driven by the rise of offshore wind on the east coast.
The energy firm is looking to support both operators and investors in the region to realise value through buildable, bankable and approvable offshore wind projects.
Rebecca Hewlett Xodus’ Global Renewables and environment director will return home from Edinburgh after more than a decade of leading Xodus’ renewables and environment teams to continue her role and head up the new office in South Yarra.
She will initially be joined by a small team in Melbourne, working closely with the Perth office and with support of Xodus’ experts from around the world.
Hewlett said: “It feels like the right time for both Xodus and myself to be in Melbourne. Victoria is looking towards cleaner technology and there will be many exciting projects for us to target over the next few years.
She added: “Having supported approvals for some of the UK’s earliest fixed and floating wind projects and provided extensive support to the recent ScotWind leasing process, I’m now looking forward to catching up with old contacts as well as building relationships with new players in the industry, to share our ambitions of having real impact on the future of Australian energy.”
This week sees the commencement of the Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Act 2021.
The act enables the construction, operation and decommissioning of offshore electricity infrastructure and provides a clear framework for investors to pursue licences for offshore wind developments.
A legislative framework, high quality wind resources, and the world’s urgent need to decarbonise mean that Australia is primed to become an offshore wind investment destination.
As well as offshore wind, Xodus is also looking to support the growth of decommissioning and hydrogen in Victoria and the other east coast states.
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