The Albanese Government opened two new Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS) tenders aimed at expanding renewable generation and storage capacity in Western Australia, a move expected to benefit hundreds of thousands of households.
The tenders, which could unlock around A$4 billion ($2.6 billion) in private investment, will deliver 1.6 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy and 2.4 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of dispatchable storage, enough to supply more than 900,000 homes annually and support peak demand for 550,000 households over four hours.
Federal Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the scheme would provide “certainty of progress to the Western Australian market and households with support for cleaner, more reliable renewable energy.” He added, “We know the Capacity Investment Scheme is working, with investors and developers outbidding each other for the chance to deliver even more renewable energy this decade.”
Assistant Minister Josh Wilson highlighted the tenders’ role in managing the state’s transition away from coal. “These new tenders for renewable energy generation and storage will make a significant contribution to meeting Western Australia’s energy needs as our state exits coal-fired power generation,” he said.
Western Australian Energy and Decarbonisation Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson welcomed the announcement, saying it would boost investor confidence and accelerate the state’s clean energy transition. “Western Australia’s clean energy transition is well underway, with a mix of public and private renewable energy generation and storage projects paving the way for us to exit State-owned coal generation by 2030,” Sanderson said.
Bidding for the tenders will remain open for 10 weeks, closing on Nov. 7, 2025. Proposals will be evaluated based on deliverability, cost-effectiveness, contributions to grid reliability, engagement with First Nations communities, and commitments to local employment and industry participation.
The CIS is part of the federal government’s broader plan to achieve 82% renewable energy by 2030, adding 40 GW of new renewable capacity nationally, supported by gas, storage, and transmission infrastructure.
