NSW to go ‘even bigger’ with second, 8GW renewable energy zone

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
A large-scale solar-plus-storage facility in South Australia. Image: Kingfisher/Lyon Group.

Plans to develop an 8GW renewable energy zone (REZ) in New South Wales, the Australian state’s second, have been billed as the biggest commitment to clean energy in its history.

Located in the New England region, the AU$79 million (US$55 million) project is expected to attract AU$12.7 billion in investment, support 2,000 construction jobs and 1,300 ongoing jobs – all while lowering energy prices.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

The development marks New South Wales’s second of three REZs and comes weeks after the first – located in the Central-West and Orana regions – received 113 registrations of interest, totalling 27GW, looking to connect to the 3GW zone in what constituted a significant oversubscription of available connections.

“The nine-fold level of interest in the Central-West Orana REZ was astounding, so it makes absolute sense to go even bigger with the New England REZ,” said the state’s energy minister Matt Kean.

“The New England REZ… when coupled with Central-West Orana REZ, sets the state up to become the number one destination across Australia for renewable energy investment.”

REZs involve making strategic transmission upgrades to bring multiple new generators online in areas with strong renewable resources and community support.

According to the NSW government, the REZs will play a “vital role” in delivering affordable energy to help replace the state’s existing power stations as they retire over the coming decades.

NSW deputy premier John Barilaro said the government is forging ahead with its plans to deliver new energy infrastructure that will lower electricity bills and create jobs.

“Regional NSW is the best place in Australia for renewable energy investment and the jobs it creates, and this funding allows us to unlock that potential,” he said.

Plans for the New England REZ have been welcomed by the Clean Energy Council, Australia’s renewable energy association. Its chief executive, Kane Thornton, said it made sense to fast-track the project.

“Renewable energy proponents are ready to invest, but there is limited spare capacity in the transmission network for new projects,” he said. “We need new transmission if we want more renewable energy, so we support the NSW government's focus on delivering strategic transmission upgrades for the REZ.

“These are the initiatives that will drive Australia's economic recovery from COVID-19. A clean recovery with renewable energy infrastructure projects will create jobs, revitalise economic activity, reduce our carbon emissions and drive down power prices.”

Read Next

June 30, 2025
Heliene has completed the sale of Section 45X Advanced Manufacturing Production Tax Credits in association with Minnesota-based U.S. Bank.
June 30, 2025
Australian module manufacturer Tindo Solar has secured a 30MW solar module supply agreement to power Australia's first "net zero pipeline”.
June 26, 2025
PV solar cell manufacturer Halocell Energy has launched its first perovskite-based product called the Halocell Ambient Modules.
June 25, 2025
JinkoSolar has submitted a 133.76MWc solar-plus-storage project in New South Wales to the federal government under the EPBC Act.
June 25, 2025
First Solar has sold US$311.8 million in tax credits to “a leading financial institution” under the rules set out in the IRA.
June 25, 2025
Australia’s National Electricity Market (NEM) achieved a new record high for solar PV and wind generation at 12,463MW.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Webinars
June 30, 2025
10am PST / 6pm BST
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Media Partners, Solar Media Events
July 2, 2025
Bangkok, Thailand
Media Partners, Solar Media Events
September 2, 2025
Mexico City, Mexico