Energy consultancy Xodus has established an office in Melbourne to support the energy transition across the east coast of Australia.
The Australian energy market has been important to Xodus since it first established a presence in Perth in 2007. The decision to open a second base was driven by the expected rise of offshore wind on the east coast, with the energy firm looking to support both operators and investors in the region.
Rebecca Hewlett, Xodus’ global renewables and environment director, will head up the office in South Yarra. She 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.
“Our diverse team has extensive global experience in supporting offshore wind projects and establishing the economic opportunities which accompany them. We understand the complexities of the development process and work collaboratively from front end design to project completion, while also facilitating local, regional and national policies to make sure local companies get the chance to work on these projects.”
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 licenses for offshore wind developments. A stable 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, said Xodus.
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.