Energy Minister Chris Bowen believes Australia has no option but to seek new supplies of gas even as the government accelerates rollout of renewables, including green-lighting preliminary work on six potential offshore Gippsland wind projects.

In comments to major energy buyers at a conference in Melbourne on Wednesday, Mr Bowen will declare that gas will play an important role filling the gap left by wind and solar, noting that unlike the opposition’s support for nuclear and coal, the energy source can be turned on and off at short notice.