NSW to issue tender for solar and wind projects on Crown Land

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
The 333MWp Darlington Point solar project in New South Wales. Image: Edify Energy.

The government of New South Wales has announced a call for expressions of interest (EOI) as the initial part of an unprecedented renewable energy tender targeting development on state-owned “crown land”.

Conducted by the Office of Energy and Climate Change through its Renewable Energy Infrastructure Investment programme, the government has already struck a deal with a landholder to potentially pair existing grazing land with solar and wind projects. This concept – often known as “agrivoltaics” – is explored in depth in the most recent issue of our journal PV Tech Power.

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 land is located within the South-West Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), one of five designated areas for renewable energy development and connection within New South Wales. In its most recent tender, the South-West REZ received over 34GW of proposals for solar, storage and wind projects, a figure ten times that of the area’s capacity.

“Crown Land” designates land that is managed by local or state governments across Australia on behalf of public interest, including national parks, cemeteries, reserves and “commons”, which are used for agricultural or business purposes by local residents. The normal process for renewable energy projects on crown land sees developers identifying areas with development potential and then appealing to the government for approval. This EOI reverses that system.

The designated area is located along the route of the Project EnergyConnect interconnection system, which is currently under construction to connect the power systems of New South Wales and South Australia. Further north, the state government of Queensland recently approved a US$3.3 billion interconnection project set to unlock 6GW of new renewables capacity.

If this EOI is met with sufficient interest and response, the government said it will issue a request for proposals (RFP).

Greg Sullivan, head of land and asset management at Crown Lands said: “Renewable energy investment on Crown land can support increased power supplies and security, less emissions to help protect the environment, and also more jobs and economic growth in regional areas.”

Read Next

July 4, 2025
Chinese PV provider Skycorp Solar Group has announced a solar plant acquisition and development strategy following unanimous board approval.
July 4, 2025
Australian retailer AGL Energy has confirmed its acquisition of South Australia’s Virtual Power Plant (SAVPP) from Tesla.
July 3, 2025
Malaysian engineering and infrastructure giant Gamuda has expanded its presence in the Australian renewables sector by partnering with Tasmanian landowners to build a 1.2GW portfolio, which includes solar PV.
July 2, 2025
A new state-owned green bank, the Energy Security Corporation (ESC), has launched in New South Wales, Australia, with an initial funding allocation of AU$1 billion (US$640 million).
Premium
July 2, 2025
ANALYSIS: China's leading PV manufacturers are locked in a new round of competition, aiming to outpace each other through record-breaking feats.
July 2, 2025
Indigenous-led renewable energy company Yindjibarndi Energy Corporation (YEC) has submitted plans for a hybrid wind and solar PV renewable energy project to the Australian government’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Media Partners, Solar Media Events
September 2, 2025
Mexico City, Mexico
Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 22, 2025
Bilbao, Spain
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK