Offshore R&D Licences Now Open Under the OEI Act

Developers can now apply for Research & Demonstration (R&D) licences under the Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Act 2021.

R&D licences support small-scale, short-term offshore renewable projects in Australia’s declared areas — allowing emerging technologies such as floating wind, wave, tidal and floating solar to be tested in real-world conditions.

Key points:

• Projects must be located in declared offshore areas
• A Management Plan must be approved by the Offshore Infrastructure Regulator
• Environmental approvals (including under the EPBC Act) still apply
• No direct pathway to a commercial licence
• Application fees temporarily reduced to $20,000, with levies waived for eligible licences

This is a strong opportunity for innovators to de-risk and demonstrate offshore renewable technologies in Australia.

At Energise, we support proponents across the full lifecycle of offshore projects:

• Navigating OEI licence requirements
• Preparing robust Management Plans
• Delivering EPBC referrals and environmental approvals
• Developing clear, regulator-aligned strategies
• Providing ongoing development support across technical advisory, project management, and environmental services to move projects from concept through to delivery

If you are considering an R&D project in Australia’s offshore declared areas, we would be pleased to assist.

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