AEMO Services has announced the first tranche of renewable energy projects, worth $2.5 billion of investment, including 2 solar farms, a wind farm and a long-duration battery that will contribute 1.4 gigawatts of renewable energy generation in NSW.
This announcement of 1.4 gigawatts of new generation means that NSW has now locked in 4.1G gigawatts of its legislated 12-gigawatt target. NSW is now one-third of the way towards meeting its 2030 target.
"The transition to clean renewable energy in NSW is essential and underway," said Minister for Energy, Penny Sharpe.
These generation and long-duration storage infrastructure projects, assessed and awarded by AEMO Services, will help to replace the state's existing coal-fired generators.
"These projects will fill the gap that will be left with the planned closures of coal-fired power stations in the coming decade," Ms Sharpe said.
The projects awarded Long Term Energy Service Agreements (LTESAs) are 2 solar farms and 1 wind farm including:
- ACEN Australia's 720-megawatt New England Solar Farm in the New England Renewable Energy Zone
- ACEN Australia's 400-megawatt Stubbo Solar Farm in the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone
- Goldwind Australia Pty Ltd's 275-megawatt Coppabella Wind Farm in the Southern Tablelands.
In an Australian first, an LTESA will also be awarded to a long-duration chemical battery that can deliver at least 8 hours' continuous discharge of stored electricity. This project is RWE Renewables Australia's 50megawatts/400megawatt-hours+ Limondale BESS in the South West Renewable Energy Zone.
Ms Sharpe said, "This tender has shown how much demand there is to invest in NSW to build renewable energy and it is very welcome that this investment will also support 3300 jobs over the next 10 years."
The projects are the first round of a rolling 10-year tender plan, which will see tenders every 6 months as NSW transitions to reliable, clean, cheaper, renewable energy.
AEMO Services expects these projects to be operational and connected to the grid at the time of the expected closure of Eraring Power Station as early as 2025 to 2026.
"The Minns Government's focus will be to ensure that the projects are delivered as quickly as possible," said Ms Sharpe.
AEMO Services has forecast that these projects could displace up to 11 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions over the 20-year contract.
Separately, another important part of the Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap has also progressed with EnergyCo selecting ACE Energy as the first-ranked proponent as Network Operator for the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone.
