ACEN Australia Secures Government Approval for 900 MW Wind Project
ACEN Australia has secured Federal Government approval for its USD 3 billion, 900 MW Robbins Island Wind project in Tasmania, following more than eight years of assessment. The transmission line to connect the project to the grid is following a separate approvals process anticipated to be completed in 2026.
September 02, 2025. By Mrinmoy Dey
The USD 3 billion development is expected to generate enough power for up to 500,000 homes, create up to 400 construction jobs, and deliver more than USD 30 million annually into the Tasmanian economy, alongside a USD 27 million community benefits program for the Circular Head region, the company said in a statement.
ACEN Australia Managing Director David Pollington said, “The decision shows that large, complex projects can be delivered responsibly, balancing overall impacts and conserving biodiversity, with the need for clean energy to address climate change.”
He further added, “It comes at a time when Australia faces a stalling energy transition and looming power shortages as coal exits the system. It also reflects the depth and rigour of ACEN’s work to address the assessment criteria and scrutiny applied through the approvals process.”
The project will deliver jobs, training and long-term community benefits. Wind then provides low-cost baseload generation backed by hydro. As a result, hydro will be able to play to its real strength as flexible on-demand generation and storage, rather than traditional baseload generation.
“It means the state could still play a meaningful role in the energy transition and capture the benefits that come with private investments like ours — at USD 3 billion, one of the largest in the state’s history – if there is a timely decision on the transmission line,” Pollington said.
The transmission line to connect the project to the grid is following a separate approvals process anticipated to be completed in 2026, allowing the project to start generating power in 2030. The project will also help the state and federal governments reach legislated emissions commitments, including Tasmania’s goal to double clean energy production by 2040, half by 2030.
Pollington remarked that Robbins Island Wind had an exceptional resource generating 30 percent more power than the average Australian wind project of comparable size. “It will also make a significant contribution to Tamanian emissions targets, representing more than half of Tasmania’s 2030 target,” he said.
“This is particularly important for Victoria, which will lose half of its coal generation by 2035, making investment in Marinus Link and the North West Transmission Developments a smart and timely move,” added Pollington.
ACEN will now work through the detailed approval conditions to understand their implications for project design and ongoing environmental monitoring while continuing preparations for its transmission proposal, scheduled for assessment in 2026, the company stated.
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