The Energy Corporation of New South Wales (EnergyCo) in Australia has awarded a transmission operator’s license to the ACEREZ Partnership for the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) transmission project.

Yesterday, the state-owned company announced that ACEREZ, a consortium consisting of Acciona Concesiones, Cobra, and Endeavour Energy, has been chosen by EnergyCo as the preferred network operator for the implementation of the Central-West Orana REZ transmission system. The selection followed a thorough competitive tender process.

Penny Sharpe, the Minister for Energy in New South Wales, issued the license permitting ACEREZ to plan, build, own, and manage the Central-West Orana REZ transmission system. This infrastructure will link renewable energy initiatives in the REZ to the established load centers in Newcastle, Sydney, and Wollongong.

The Central-West Orana REZ, spanning approximately 20,000 km2 near Dunedoo, Mudgee, and Dubbo in a rural region around 330km northwest of Sydney, is set to provide a minimum of 4.5GW of transmitted renewable electricity. This ambitious project has the potential to unlock an estimated AUS$20 billion (US$13.5 billion) in private investments for solar PV, wind power, and energy storage.

Last month (8 August), the Central-West Orana REZ achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first project in the country to enter the delivery phase following its approval by the Commonwealth for planning. This distinction sets it apart as a pioneering initiative in Australia.

The New South Wales REZs are experiencing a growing interest from various stakeholders. The initial tender for the South West REZ witnessed a remarkable response, with project applicants totaling approximately 15GW of solar PV, wind power, and energy storage. This amount exceeded the indicative target of 3.98GW by nearly fourfold, highlighting the strong enthusiasm and potential for renewable energy development in the region.

The South West REZ, originally planned in 2018, will be situated west of Wagga Wagga and will span across the border between New South Wales and Victoria. Over time, there have been slight modifications to its location and design. The revised plan now entails a larger land area, extending as far west as Buronga. These adjustments ensure that the South West REZ can effectively harness the renewable energy potential of the region while maximizing its geographical coverage.