The APAC Wind Energy Summit, the Global Wind Energy Council’s (GWEC) flagship conference and exhibition, is set to return to Melbourne in 2025. Previously known as the Offshore Wind and Green Hydrogen Summit, this prestigious event will bring together industry leaders, policymakers, and institutions to develop innovative and collaborative solutions addressing supply chain and market design challenges in wind energy development.
The Summit’s return follows the success of the inaugural event hosted in Melbourne in 2023. During this event, Victoria announced it was the first subnational government in the world to join the Global Offshore Wind Alliance (GOWA), playing a lead role in accelerating the deployment of offshore wind power. The 2025 Summit will build on this momentum and provide a multi-stakeholder platform to accelerate wind energy growth across the region.
More than 1,500 delegates are expected to convene at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) for the three-day summit, which will be held from 16 to 18 September 2025. The exhibition will be open to the public.
The successful bid spearheaded by the Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB), in partnership with the Victorian Government Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Action (DEECA) and support from Tourism Australia’s Business Events Bid Fund Program, demonstrates Victoria’s leadership and pivotal role in the Asia Pacific region’s energy transition.
MCB Chief Executive Julia Swanson said securing this event again is a testament to Melbourne’s leadership in the renewable energy sector and our collaborative efforts with government and industry stakeholders. “The return of the APAC Wind Energy Summit to Melbourne in 2025 marks a significant milestone in the region’s renewable energy journey. We look forward to welcoming delegates from across the globe to continue the vital work of advancing wind energy solutions and building a sustainable future,” Julia Swanson said.
Victoria is at the forefront of the renewable revolution, setting world-leading targets to cut greenhouse emissions and achieve net-zero emissions. This positions Melbourne as the hub of choice, closely aligning with the goals of the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) members, who represent 99 per cent of the world’s installed wind power capacity and include top turbine manufacturers, developers, suppliers, and service providers.
As the only Australian state with offshore wind targets, Victoria will soon be home to the country’s first offshore wind farms. These farms will contribute significantly to achieving Victoria’s ambitious renewable energy goals of 4 GW by 2035 and 9 GW by 2040, working towards net-zero emissions by 2045. Victoria has already made significant strides by cutting more emissions than any other Australian state, tripling the amount of renewable energy, and setting a renewable energy target of 95 per cent by 2035.
GWEC Chief Executive Ben Backwell said Melbourne was identified as the preferred host destination for the Summit due to its proven track record and commitment to renewable energy. “GWEC is delighted to bring the APAC Wind Energy Summit back to Melbourne. The state of Victoria is at the leading edge of Australia’s energy transition, and we are excited to bring the global wind industry together at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) in 2025.
“The inaugural event in 2023 was a major moment in Australia’s energy transition, bringing industry, state and federal government, and communities together to advance renewable energy development in Australia. Australia continues to lead wind energy development in the APAC region, and we look forward to convening in Melbourne again to further accelerate the renewable energy revolution in the region.
“In 2024, the Summit in South Korea has grown to embrace the wider APAC region and will bring even more global voices to the region. In 2025, we will bring that scale back to Melbourne with industry, state and national government and communities from across the region present to work together to build the new energy system across the region,” Ben Backwell said.
Tourism Australia Managing Director Phillipa Harrison said: “Given the importance of business events to our tourism sector, we are so pleased to support this latest event win for Melbourne through Tourism Australia’s Business Events Bid Fund program. Since its inception, our Business Events Bid Fund has been helping to support a thriving visitor economy by building a strong pipeline of future international business events across Australia.”
With the APAC Wind Energy Summit set to return to Melbourne in 2025, the city continues solidifying its position as a leader in renewable energy and a prime destination for global conferences.
