The State Government of New South Wales (NSW) in Australia is welcoming interested companies to register their interest to participate in the South-West Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), to ascertain project timing, capacity design and its location.
The South-West REZ is planned to be located around Hay on the lands of the Wiradjuri, Yorta Yorta, Barapa Barapa, Wemba Wemba, Wadi Wadi, Madi Madi, Nari Nari, and Yitha Yitha people. According to the government, the location was chosen due to an abundance of high quality solar and other energy resources, relative land-use compatibility, strong pipeline of proposed projects, and proximity to project EnergyConnect.
Interest received in response to this tender will enable the government to determine right projects are built in the right places. The registration of interest (ROI) is open to generation, load storage and network developers, and complement other community consultation processes.
NSW specified that the South-West REZ, along with the other REZs planned, is fundamental to the successful delivery of the NSW Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap under which the government wants to reduce the state's electricity emissions by 90 million tons by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions status by 2050.
Last date to submit ROI documents is November 24, 2021. Details about the same are available on the state government's website.
Previously, NSW held similar ROI processes for 3 GW Central-West Orana REZ—attracting 27 GW capacity in response. Following this, it launched another call for New England REZ, offering to have 8 GW capacity built (see NSW Scouring Interest For 8 GW New England REZ).
Two more REZs are in the offing in Hunter-Central Coast and Illawarra regions.