Irish engineering consulting and project management company, RPS, has been appointed as principal consultant for the proposed offshore wind farm located in the Southern Ocean region.

The 1GW Spinifex Offshore Wind Farm is proposed to be located off the Victorian and South Australian coastlines.

Alinta Energy is exploring the potential for the Spinifex offshore wind development to supply green energy to the Portland aluminium smelter and east coast electricity grid.

If approved, the estimated $4 billion project will help decarbonise Victoria's electricity grid and could be one of Australia's first aluminium smelters to be powered by 100 per cent renewable energy.

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RPS said it will begin work immediately on the Spinifex project.

Greg Harrison, a Practice Lead at RPS, said: "We're looking forward to working with the Spinifex team and undertaking a variety of project development activities during the regulatory approvals phase.

"As the principal consultant, we’ll work on the feasibility licence application, marine environmental baseline surveys, and a range of planning and environmental technical studies as well as Commonwealth and Victorian Government environmental approval processes.

"Our experienced multi-disciplinary team includes marine scientists, approvals experts, planners, communications and engagement specialists and will also have project management capability.

"The environmental and technical studies, Greg says will provide crucial information for the planning and design of the project.

"The findings from our work will help inform project decision making including mitigation measures to help minimise impacts to the onshore and offshore environments.

"And more broadly, these project development activities will contribute to the establishment of an environmentally responsible and sustainable offshore wind industry in Victoria."