5 wind farm projects in Australia creating job opportunities

Wind energy supplied 33,5% of Australia’s clean energy in 2024, accounting for 13,4% of total electricity - enough to power over seven million homes for a year. 

Even though this source of green energy is a cornerstone to Australia’s emissions reduction strategy, the market faces supply chain constraints, workforce shortage and delays in offshore wind energy development. 
 
In this article, we’ll explore the wind farm projects in Australia, including current market overview, job creation forecasts and companies driving progress. 

Australia is the largest wind market in the Pacific 

With over 12GW of installed capacity by the end of 2024, Australia’s wind energy sector plays a big role in the country’s target of reaching 82% renewables by 2030. According to the Clean Energy Council, wind leads the renewables generation mix, followed by rooftop solar and utility-scale solar. However, black coal still accounts for 39.1% of electricity generation.  

In 2024, Australia’s wind energy industry grew significantly after a 2023 with no financial commitments to large-scale wind projects. 836MW of new wind capacity was added to the grid and six farms were commissioned.  

However, 2025 marks another fall for the sector. The Clean Energy Council’s Q2 2025 Investment Report notes no new onshore wind farm commitments this year. However, 15 projects are either financially committed or under construction, representing more than $12 billion in investment and over 5 GW of capacity. 

Will the wind energy industry create job opportunities? 

By 2030, Australia will need 85,000 additional workers to build and operate renewable energy infrastructure, according to the Global Wind Workforce Outlook 2025-2030. Yet, The Powering Skills Organisation warns of a projected shortfall of 42,000 clean-energy employees if current talent gaps are not addressed properly.   

Onshore wind job creation remains steady

Over the next five years, the onshore wind sector will require 6,000-9,000 full-time employees annually for construction and installation (C&I) and operations and maintenance (O&M). Persistent shortages in technician roles for wind and transmission projects could result in delays and higher costs. 

Offshore wind projects hold significant potential in job creation 

No offshore wind projects are expected online until early 2030. However, the sector promises substantial job creation: 

• 4,000 construction jobs
• 500 long-term O&M roles 
• 3,500 indirect jobs in manufacturing and supply chain. 
  

Skills development initiatives 

To address talent shortage, federal and state programs, such as the National Energy Workforce Strategy and Victoria’s Clean Economy Workforce Development Strategy, are driving training efforts. Certified Global Wind Organisation training centres have grown from 2 in 2018 to 15 in 2024, focusing on blade maintenance and technician skills. Partnerships like Ocean Winds (OW) and Federation University are also preparing the offshore wind workforce through specialised training and professional development. 

Five key wind projects in Australia 

Australia has 127 onshore wind projects at various stages of development, with a combined value of $97 billion. In this section, Airswift highlights five active wind energy projects in Australia driving job creation. 

1. Robbins Island and Jim’s Plain Wind Project
2. Lotus Creek Wind Farm Project
3. Golden Plains Wind Farm – Phase II
4. Boulder Creek Wind Farm – Phase I and II
5. Spicers Creek Wind Farm

1. Robbins Island and Jim’s Plain Wind Project

ACEN Renewables is building a $3 billion energy park in northwest Tasmania. The project features two wind farms: Robbins Island, delivering 900MW with up to 100 turbines, and Jim's Plain, generating 180MW with up to 19 turbines. Jim's Plain is expected to start operations in 2027 and plans also include a potential 400MW solar farm and a 40MW battery energy storage system. The full project is expected to launch by 2034, creating around 400 jobs at peak construction.

2. Lotus Creek Wind Farm Project

With operations expected to begin in 2027, the Lotus Creek Wind Farm is a $1.3 billion project developed by CS Energy. Located in Central Queensland, this eolic farm will generate 285MW with up to 46 turbines, enough to power 170 thousand homes. Construction will create around 400 jobs, with up to 15 permanent roles on-site once operational.

3. Golden Plains Wind Farm – Phase II

This $1.2 billion project will develop Phase II of the Golden Plains Wind Farm, adding 574MW to the onshore wind farm in Victoria. Operated by Total Energies and Ingka Group, it is scheduled for completion in 2027 and will feature 93 turbines, powering over 315 thousand homes. Construction will create 700 direct and indirect jobs, with up to 70 operational roles.

4. Boulder Creek Wind Farm – Phase I and II

Owned by Aula Energy and CS Energy, the Boulder Creek Wind Farm in Queensland will be developed in two phases at a total cost of $500 million. Phase I is set start commercial operations in 2027 with 38 turbines delivering 228MW, enough to power 85 thousand homes, and will create 250 construction jobs. Phase II, scheduled for 2028, will add 222 MW capacity with 37 turbines.

5. Spicers Creek Wind Farm

Operated by Squadron Energy, this $700 million onshore wind farm in Central West NSW will be part of the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone. The project includes up to 117 turbines delivering 700MW capacity, powering more than 395 thousand homes, and includes a 400MW battery storage facility. Operations are scheduled to begin in 2029 and more than 330 jobs are expected to be created.

What is the current status of offshore wind projects in Australia?

Australia has 4,900GW of offshore wind potential, according to the World Bank Group-ESMAP. With 90% of coal set to retire within the next 10 years, the government started introducing regulatory frameworks to enable offshore wind zones. While there’s no national capacity target yet, Victory aims for 2 GW by 2032, 4 GW by 2035 and 9 GW by 2040.

Currently, no offshore wind projects are operational, but more than 12 feasibility licenses were issued in Victoria in 2024, with two more granted in 2025 for Victoria and New South Wales.

Despite strong momentum in 2024, global offshore wind slowed in 2025, highlighted by the U.S. withdrawing licenses for near-complete projects, creating uncertainty and delaying commitments. Upcoming auctions in 2026 will be critical to shaping Australia’s market outlook.

Need skilled professionals for your wind energy project?

Access to skilled talent is one of the biggest challenges facing the wind energy sector, especially as Australia accelerates its renewable transition. Recruiting, training, and mobilising expertise is critical for both onshore and offshore projects, where demand for specialists continues to rise globally.

Airswift helps overcome this challenge by connecting top professionals to major renewable energy initiatives. With 60+ offices worldwide, 1,000 employees, and 9,000 contractors, we deliver talent solutions across every stage of the project lifecycle, from engineering and fabrication to commissioning and operations.

If you need expert talent to drive your renewable energy projects, get in touch with Airswift today.