Overview
We are seeking your feedback on the Draft Research and Demonstration Licence Guideline and Registrar Forms Guidance.
A research and demonstration licence allows a licence holder to trial and test new or emerging offshore renewable energy technologies including solar, wave and tidal generators. It also allows licence holders to research renewable energy resources offshore.
These guidance documents will assist prospective licence holders, and other stakeholders, to understand the requirements for applying for a research and demonstration licence, and how the merit criteria is assessed under the Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Act 2021 and the Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Regulations 2022.
To have your say:
Read the draft guideline
Read the draft Registrar Forms Guidance
Take our survey or make a submission
Submit your feedback by Friday 3 October 2025.
Your feedback will be used to improve and finalise guidance on the research and demonstration licence application guideline before prospective licence holders can submit licence applications.
Please note: the Research and Demonstration Licence Guideline will form Chapter 6 of the Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Licence Administration Guidelines. The full guidelines are available on the Registrar’s website for reference.
We are not seeking feedback on other chapters of the guideline, on the broader Offshore Electricity Infrastructure framework, or more general feedback on offshore renewable energy in Australia.
Cost Recovery Arrangements
The Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Framework operates on a cost recovery basis, with fees and levies on licence holders charged to cover the costs of licence assessment and administration.
The Australian Government is working to improve the regulatory framework by enhancing efficiency and reducing development barriers. We are considering the fees and levies that are applied under the Government’s cost recovery framework and whether they can be reduced.
