Matthew Boustead Moderates Panel at Offshore WindTECH Summit
On paper, Australia’s offshore wind projects look a lot like Europe’s. Under the water, they’re a completely different problem.
Last week our Technical Project Manager Matthew Boustead moderated a panel at the Offshore WindTECH Summit — part of Australia Wind Energy 2027 — on what it actually takes to install offshore wind foundations and turbines here: safely, on schedule, and on budget.
The starting point was everything that sets Australia apart. Carbonate soils that behave nothing like the North Sea. Distinct metocean conditions. Marine mammal considerations. And the sheer distance involved in building at scale on the far side of the world.
To bring it to life, the panel worked through a scenario every developer quietly dreads — a pile suddenly running partway through one of Australia’s first offshore wind projects, driving away far faster than the model predicted. From there: how early preparation, contractor engagement, equipment planning and contractual risk allocation all shape whether a moment like that becomes a minor delay or a major one.
Thank you to fellow panelists Jorrit De Boer (Boskalis), Simon Van de Sande (DEME Group) and Manh N Tran (Worley) for a genuinely engaging discussion.
Energise is looking forward to being part of more important conversations like this as the build out of offshore wind in Australia continues.
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