EnergyCo

NSW has sealed the deal for Australia’s first Renewable Energy Zone which will provide cheaper and more reliable energy to millions of homes and businesses across the state. The NSW Government's EnergyCo has awarded ACEREZ - a consortium of ACCIONA AU & NZ COBRA, and Endeavour Energy (NSW) – the contract to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the Central-West Orana REZ transmission project. The project will deliver at least 4.5 gigawatts of new network capacity by 2028, to connect 7.7 gigawatts of wind and solar projects, which is enough to power more than 2 million homes each year. It will generate a significant economic boost in the Central-West Orana region and NSW as a whole, supporting more than 5,000 construction jobs at its peak and bringing $20 billion in private investment into the region by 2030. The Minns Labor Government is also delivering $128 million in grants for projects in the communities that’ll host the REZ, to deliver benefits and inject funding into the area before major construction starts.

EnergyCo has signed a contract with ACEREZ – a group made up of ACCIONA AU & NZ, COBRA and Endeavour Energy (NSW) – to build and run the new power lines that will connect renewable energy projects to the NSW electricity grid. ACEREZ will design, build, finance, operate and maintain the project for the next 35 years. The project will: 👉 Add at least 4.5 gigawatts of new network capacity by 2028 👉 Connect up to 7.7 gigawatts of wind and solar energy – enough to power over two million homes each year 👉 Support more than 5,000 jobs during the construction phase 👉 Bring around $20 billion of private investment into the region by 2030 This is the first time a REZ transmission project has been chosen through a competitive process in Australia. The process was overseen by the Australian Energy Regulator and designed to support early delivery and keep costs down for energy users. Early work on the project started in February. Full construction is expected to begin in the middle of the year. The NSW Government is also investing $128 million in the region to support local Councils, community groups and First Nations organisations. The first round of grant recipients will be announced soon. Read the full media release here: https://lnkd.in/gJrwji8K #EnergyCoNSW #CentralWestOranaREZ #RenewableEnergy

We held an industry briefing attended by over 400 people about the opportunity to become the network operator for the New England Renewable Energy Zone (REZ).   We value our ongoing partnerships with industry to deliver this critical investment in grid infrastructure.   The briefing was held as part of a competitive procurement process seeking a network operator to design, construct, finance, operate and maintain the New England REZ network infrastructure project.   For more details on the network operator procurement process visit https://lnkd.in/gq2-FqfD. 

Our Executive Director of Strategy and Policy, Chloe Hicks, had the honour of representing NSW at the recent Energy Storage Summit Australia in Sydney. In a packed session spotlighting each state’s energy efforts, Chloe opened the panel with a clear message: EnergyCo is not just planning for the NSW energy transition—we’re building it. “We think about the Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap as a three-legged stool—renewables, storage, and grid. We need all three to deliver on our vision of a clean, affordable and reliable energy future for NSW.” – Chloe Hicks From the Waratah Super Battery to progress across the Renewable Energy Zones, NSW is enabling long-term investment in storage infrastructure that supports the delivery of affordable, reliable and clean energy. Thank you to Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) and the Energy Storage Summit team for facilitating important industry conversations, and to the many partners working alongside us as we deliver the Roadmap. #EnergyStorage #NSWEnergy #Renewables 

At the New England REZ Skills Summit in Armidale this week, we had the opportunity to connect with students, businesses, and job seekers to discuss the future of renewable energy in the region. Neville Bereyne, Manager of Program Delivery at EnergyCo, spoke about the New England Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) and what it means for local communities. One of EnergyCo’s core priorities is making sure the regional communities hosting infrastructure are benefitting from in this once-in-a-generation economic opportunity through the creation of new jobs and training up the next generation of locals. Key takeaways from the session:  ✅ A clean energy future – The New England REZ will unlock up to 6GW of network capacity, supporting more reliable and affordable renewable generation.  ✅ Investment & jobs – The REZ is expected to bring $24 billion in private sector investment, creating 6,000 construction jobs and 2,000 ongoing roles.  ✅ Community benefits – The REZ has the potential to attract investment and support economic activity in the region.  ✅ Pathways into energy careers – Programs like the "Prepare to Work in the Renewable Energy Industry" micro-course can help people gain new skills and explore new career directions. Here’s a couple of photo's from the day! EnergyCo enjoyed being part of this important conversation and hearing from so many engaged community members.

We’re hosting drop-in community information sessions about the Hunter Transmission Project (HTP) so the local community can speak to our team, learn about the environmental impact statement underway and give their feedback. Join us at an upcoming HTP event:  📅 Cooranbong: Monday 24 March, 3 pm to 6 pm at Cooranbong Community Hall, 614 Freemans Drive 📅 Cessnock: Tuesday 25 March, 3 pm to 6 pm at Performance Arts Culture Cessnock, 198-202 Vincent St 📅 Singleton: Wednesday 26 March, 3 pm to 6 at Club Singleton, 33 William St     Click here to learn more: https://lnkd.in/gZM_PyFy    #EnergyCo #CommunityEngagement #HunterTransmissionProject  

We’re inviting industry to attend a briefing for the call for registrations of interest for the New England Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) network operator package on Thursday 27 March. The briefing is an opportunity for industry to ask questions and gain a better understanding about the procurement process and the role of the network operator. Currently EnergyCo is seeking registrations of interests for a network operator to design, construct, finance, operate and maintain the New England REZ network infrastructure. Read more about our network operator procurement process on our website at https://lnkd.in/gqy5bCDi

We’re seeking a partner to help deliver and operate the New England Renewable Energy Zone (REZ). Registrations of interest have officially opened for a future network operator who will design, construct, finance, operate and maintain the network infrastructure. This competitive procurement process will help EnergyCo find an operator who brings a whole-of-life approach to the design, delivery and operation and will work collaboratively with generation and storage projects, landowners and the community. Potential bidders are invited to attend an industry briefing on Thursday 27 March, to learn more about the opportunity. For more details on the network operator procurement process visit https://lnkd.in/gq2-FqfD  

The Waratah Super Battery Project has been shortlisted by the Smart Energy Council for the Best Public Sector Energy Transition Initiative.   The project is special and innovative for several reasons: 🔋 It involves one of the largest and most powerful utility scale batteries in the world, capable of providing 850 megawatts for 2 hours.  🔋 It has one of the largest points of connection in Australia’s National Electricity Market.  🔋 Until now, there has never been a battery of this scale used to increase network capacity anywhere in the world.   🔋 It’s faster to implement than new transmission lines and allows existing lines to be run harder. This will allow more renewable energy from regional NSW to reach the Hunter, Sydney and Illawarra regions when it goes into operation later this year. Congratulations to everyone involved in developing and delivering this critical project for NSW’s energy future. Akaysha Energy Transgrid Consolidated Power Projects PTY Ltd

EnergyCo is supporting the Business Briefings led by the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, and NSW ICC, helping local businesses connect with opportunities in the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ). ACEREZ is also involved and has shared details on the upcoming sessions next week. These briefings, along with capability statement workshops, are a great way for businesses to prepare for REZ contracts and partnerships. To learn more about how you can get involved, visit our website: https://lnkd.in/gnRU4tjE