Winds of change: reforms coming for renewable energy

Any map will suggest Australia, an island nation with the world's sixth largest coastline, is a natural candidate for offshore wind projects.

While rooftop solar leads the way in our energy generation, wind turbines could keep the lights on in thousands of homes with just a few ventures, according to Rewiring Australia chief executive Francis Vierboom.

"Offshore wind is a great opportunity to get a lot of energy into the system that's renewable," he says.

"It will be critical for Victoria's ability to turn off coal and it will play a similar role if we can make it happen in Newcastle where there are bigger power stations."

But strong headwinds have struck the technology, with companies backing out of multibillion-dollar projects off the NSW and Victorian coasts in recent weeks, rising