Ampcontrol announces shared Destiny with offshore wind developer

Electrical engineering business Ampcontrol has announced that it is partnering with offshore wind developer, Star of the South, on the proposed Destiny Wind wind farm off the Hunter coast.

An area covering 1,854 square kilometres off NSW’s Hunter region was declared suitable for offshore wind development by the federal government in July last year. It was Australia’s second declared offshore wind zone, following Gippsland in Victoria, where the Star of the South project has been proposed.

A short statement from Ampcontrol on Wednesday said the partnership will “explore innovation opportunities and create local jobs as part of an offshore wind industry.”

“We’ve identified some key collaboration areas from both a local and national perspective – it’s exciting to see what could be possible,” said Destiny Wind Acting Project Director, Erin Coldham.

“Offshore wind would continue the long history of industry excellence in regional areas like the Hunter – local experience and know-how will play a big role in advancing this new Australian industry.”

Hunter-based Ampcontrol has over 800 employees around Australia, was founded in 1968, and is the nation’s privately-owned electrical engineering company. 

It has foundations in the coal mining sector in the Hunter Valley, though has diversified through in recent years into renewables and remote area power.

It became 100 per cent owned by long-time majority owner Washington H. Soul Pattinson in 2022, with WHSP saying at the time Ampcontrol was “uniquely positioned to capitalise on the decarbonisation thematic”.

Ampcontrol recently announced its biggest-ever apprentice intake, with 55 beginning across its operations in 2024.

Picture: Ampcontrol Managing Director Rod Henderson and Coldham (supplied)

Further reading

Ampcontrol announces record apprentice intake for 2024

WHSP to acquire Ampcontrol, citing decarbonisation potential

Ampcontrol announces record apprentice intake for 2024