The Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) has taken a significant step towards its goal of generating 12GW of renewable energy by 2030. The government has announced the award of contracts for a 1.4GW tranche of clean energy projects under the first phase of a 10-year rolling tender programme. The successful projects comprise two solar farms, a wind farm, and a battery energy storage system, with a combined investment value of approximately A$2.5bn.
Among the winners were ACEN Australia, which secured agreements for the 720MW New England Solar Farm in the New England Renewable Energy Zone and the 400MW Stubbo Solar Farm in the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone. Goldwind Australia's 275MW Coppabella Wind Farm in the Southern Tablelands was also successful, alongside RWE Renewables Australia's 50MW/400MWh Limondale BESS in the South West Renewable Energy Zone.
The contracts were assessed and awarded by AEMO Services, which expects the projects to be operational by 2025/26. The tender programme is aimed at replacing NSW's coal-fired power stations, which are due to be decommissioned over the next ten years.
NSW has now locked in 4.1GW of its legislated 12GW renewable generation target, and the government is keen to ensure that the projects are delivered swiftly. As the Minister for Energy, Penny Sharpe, stated: “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 3,300 jobs over the next 10 years. The Minns government's focus will be to ensure that the projects are delivered as quickly as possible.”
The NSW government's commitment to clean energy has been welcomed by the renewables sector. According to Matthew Warren, chief executive of the Australian Energy Council, the contracts “reflect the strength of the sector and the government's focus on delivering new sources of energy”. He added: “The transition to a cleaner energy system will continue and will need to be sustained by regular investment in new generation and storage technologies.”
The NSW programme is not only helping to transform the state's energy mix but is also boosting local employment opportunities. As Chris O'Neill, chief executive of ACEN Australia, explained: “We're creating 900 direct jobs in construction and hundreds more in operations and maintenance.” Meanwhile, Mark Twidell, president and CEO of Goldwind International, noted that the Coppabella project would create “up to 250 jobs in construction and around 10 permanent positions during operation”. These projects will not only deliver clean energy but will also provide significant economic benefits for the region.
As NSW moves towards a cleaner energy future, the government plans to hold further renewable energy tenders every six months. The programme is expected to create a pipeline of investment in the state's energy infrastructure, driving innovation and growth in the sector for years to come.
