Australia’s largest Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) has been swamped with over 80 registrations of interest, totaling a massive 34 gigawatts (GW), from potential renewable energy projects.
Energy Minister Matt Kean said the response showed huge investor confidence in the state’s Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap, with more than four times the level of interest needed to fully build the 8 GW REZ.
“The New England REZ is expected to deliver around $10.7 billion in investment and around 830 operational jobs, as well as 1,250 construction jobs each year, all while putting downward pressure on electricity prices and providing landowners with new income streams,” Mr Kean said.
“The overwhelming response shows this is a once in a generation opportunity to attract enormous investment into regional areas, cementing NSW’s renewable energy future.”
Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall said the overwhelming response to the Registration of Interest (ROI) put the local community in the box seat when it came to the final design and planning of the REZ.
“With this level of interest, we have the luxury of supporting only the best projects that benefit the community, maintain the highest and strictest development standards and maximise local renewable jobs and investment in the region,” Mr Marshall said.
“By co-ordinating REZ development in a strategic way, we can control our own destiny, making sure the projects we host work for our community, not just developers.”
The 2021-22 NSW Budget allocated $380 million to deliver the state’s landmark Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap which builds on the $79 million the NSW Government has already committed to deliver the New England REZ.
It will take a number of years to plan and deliver the New England REZ, in close consultation with communities, project proponents and market bodies.
The ROI is the first step in engaging industry and project proponents as planning for the New England REZ progresses. The Energy Corporation of NSW (EnergyCo) will use the information to inform the next stage of REZ design.
EnergyCo will continue engagement with local stakeholders, including landholders, First Nations and other regional representatives, through the New England REZ Regional Reference Group. Their first meeting was held in April and reconvened again this week.
Participation in the REZ will ultimately be determined through a competitive tender process. EnergyCo is now analysing the data to inform the next steps of the REZ development. Work is now underway to run the first auctions for renewable energy projects across NSW in 2022.
Further information is available on the NSW Renewable Energy Zones website.
