Massive Wind, Solar & Battery Projects Gain Grid Access in NSW
May 7
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7 GW of Renewables Approved in Central-West Orana REZ
New South Wales has greenlit over 7 GW of renewable energy and battery storage projects to connect to the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), a key step in replacing retiring coal power and meeting climate targets.
Major Winners Revealed
Ten projects secured “access rights,” including wind farms, solar farms with batteries, and hybrid solar-battery setups. Big names such as Andrew Forrest’s Squadron Energy, Tilt Renewables, Acen Renewables, Lightsource bp, and Pacific Partnerships lead the list of successful bidders.
Capacity Investment Scheme Alignment
Among the winners are three projects backed under the federal Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS): Acen’s 919 MW Valley of the Winds, Squadron’s 700 MW Spicers Creek wind farm, and Lightsource bp’s 700 MW Sandy Creek solar and battery project.
Biggest Projects in State History
Also approved are Tilt’s 1.35 GW Liverpool Range wind project and Potentia’s 500 MW solar hybrid – the largest of its kind in Australia. Combined, the projects will deliver 7.15 GW of generation and 5.2 GWh of storage, powering 2.7 million homes annually.
REZ to Drive Jobs, Community Investment
NSW Energy Minister Penny Sharpe said the REZ will draw billions in private investment, generate thousands of jobs, and stabilize the grid while lowering costs. The REZ will also fund community projects and improve energy reliability.
Industry Leaders Applaud Move
EnergyCo CEO Hannah McCaughey called the decision a landmark, nearly doubling NSW’s current wind and solar output. Smart Energy Council CEO John Grimes added that these developments signal Australia’s accelerating shift to renewables.
Challenges and Community Feedback
Despite overall optimism, some communities voiced concerns about development concentration and lack of local input. Network operators argue that more distributed solutions could be cheaper and faster, a proposal under government review.
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