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UpdatedFactsheet 202012

The NSW Government plans to establish Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) in several regions of the state to replace aging power stations with renewable energy generation and storage. The first REZ will be a pilot project in the Central-West Orana region, which is expected to attract $5.2 billion in investment and support 3,900 jobs. Subsequent REZs will also be developed in the New England, South-West, Hunter-Central Coast and Illawarra regions to take advantage of local renewable energy resources and unlock private sector investment.

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27 views

UpdatedFactsheet 202012

The NSW Government plans to establish Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) in several regions of the state to replace aging power stations with renewable energy generation and storage. The first REZ will be a pilot project in the Central-West Orana region, which is expected to attract $5.2 billion in investment and support 3,900 jobs. Subsequent REZs will also be developed in the New England, South-West, Hunter-Central Coast and Illawarra regions to take advantage of local renewable energy resources and unlock private sector investment.

Uploaded by

Long Nguyen
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Renewable Energy Zones

The NSW Government’s Electricity Strategy and Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap set out a plan to deliver
Renewable Energy Zones (REZ) in the State’s Central-West Orana, New England and South-West regions.
This builds on the NSW Transmission Infrastructure Strategy and supports the implementation of the
Australian Energy Market Operator’s Integrated System Plan. Further REZs will also be developed in the
Hunter-Central Coast and Illawarra regions of NSW.

The REZs will play a vital role in delivering affordable energy generation to help replace the State’s existing
power stations as they close over the coming decades. The REZs in the Central-West Orana, New England
and South-West regions of NSW alone will unlock a significant pipeline of large-scale renewable energy and
storage projects, while supporting up to $20.7 billion of private sector investment in our regions and an over
5,000 construction jobs at their peak.

What is a Renewable Energy Zone?

Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) are modern-


day power stations. They combine renewable
energy generation such as wind and solar,
storage such as batteries, and high-voltage
poles and wires to deliver energy to the homes,
businesses and industries that need it.

By connecting multiple generators and storage


in the same location, REZs capitalise on
economies of scale to deliver cheap, reliable
and clean electricity for NSW.

What are the benefits of Renewable Priority Renewable Energy Zones


Energy Zones?
The NSW Transmission Infrastructure Strategy,
released in 2018, identified the Central-West Orana,
The Renewable Energy Zones are expected to
New England and South West regions as priority
deliver multiple benefits for NSW, including:
locations for REZs.
• more reliable energy from significant amounts
These locations benefit from exceptional energy
of new energy supply
resources including wind, solar and hydro and are
• energy bill savings from reduced wholesale relatively close to existing grid infrastructure. They
electricity costs also have reduced environmental, heritage and
land use constraints, and benefit from existing
• emissions reduction from a cleaner energy
investment interest from the private-sector.
sector
Importantly, these REZs do not preclude the
• community partnership from strategic planning
development of energy projects in other parts of
and best practice engagement and benefit
the State which may already have enough grid
sharing.
capacity to connect new projects.
Central-West Orana pilot REZ
The NSW Government is in the planning stage for
the State’s first pilot REZ in the Central-West
Orana region around Dubbo and Wellington on the
land of the Wiradjuri, Wailwan and Kamilaroi
people.

The pilot REZ is expected to be shovel-ready by


end 2022 and unlock up to 3,000 megawatts of
new generation by the mid-2020’s, bringing an
estimated $5.2 billion in private sector investment
to the Central-West Orana region by 2030.

This is enough new capacity to power around 1.4


million homes. This REZ alone is expected to
support 3,900 construction jobs at its peak.
Indicative Central-West Orana REZ
The Central-West Orana region was chosen for the
pilot because it benefits from relatively low build
costs, a strong mix of energy resources, and
Energy Corporation of NSW
significant existing investment and investor
The Energy Corporation of NSW (Energy
interest. The NSW Government has committed
Corporation) is a Government-controlled statutory
over $40 million to support its delivery.
authority which will lead the delivery of NSW
In June 2020, 27,000 MW of new energy REZs.
generation and storage projects responded to a
The Energy Corporation will coordinate REZ
registration of interest in the Central-West Orana
transmission, generation and storage projects to
region - nine times the amount required to deliver
deliver efficient, timely and coordinated
the REZ.
investment.
The importance of the Central-West Orana REZ
The Energy Corporation will take a holistic view of
was recognised in the Australian Energy Market
REZ planning and consultation, and will work with
Operator’s 2020 Integrated System Plan as an
communities to ensure the benefits of investment
‘actionable’ transmission project. This means it is
are equitably shared within host regions.
deemed a critical project to address cost, security
and reliability issues across the entire National
Electricity Market.
Further information

New England, South-West, Hunter- The NSW Government welcomes input from
communities, industry and other interested parties
Central Coast and Illawarra REZs to help design and implement the NSW REZs.
The NSW Government is in the early stages of • Visit our website to find out more about REZs:
planning REZs in the New England, South-West, energy.nsw.gov.au/renewable-energy-zones
Hunter-Central Coast and Illawarra REZs.
• Send us an email if you would like to join
These areas have some of the best natural energy our mailing list and stay informed:
resources, strong investor interest and are close to [email protected].
existing high voltage power lines.
• You can also read the NSW Farmers Renewable
The NSW Government has committed to investing Energy Landholder Guide for further information
$78.9 million to support the development of the New about hosting renewable energy projects:
England REZ. Developing the New England, South- http://nswfarmers.org.au/NSWFA/Content/Indus
West, Hunter-Central Coast and Illawarra REZs will be tryPolicy/Resource/Renewable_Energy_Landhol
complex, taking a number of years to design and der_Guide
build.

The NSW Government will engage closely with


stakeholders on the delivery of these REZs.

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