- Illawarra REZ has attracted 17 GW worth of new power generation and storage capacity in response to the June 2022 ROI
- Lion’s share has come from offshore wind energy projects, while 5 solar PV projects make up 44 interested projects
- The zone is to be formally declared by the NSW government by the end of 2022 under its Electricity Roadmap legislation
The New South Wales (NSW) government has received interest for a total of 17 GW worth of power generation capacity along with energy storage, comprising 5 solar projects and 10 wind generation facilities, in response to its registration of interest (ROI) for Illawarra Renewable Energy Zone (REZ).
The ROI round was opened in June 2022 to help the government firm up plans to ensure reliable electricity supply in the state once coal power plants retire (see Registration Of Interest For Illawarra REZ).
Of the 44 projects—worth $43 billion potential investment—registered, 8 are for offshore wind energy facilities, 2 for onshore wind, 16 for energy storage projects including 11 batteries, 4 pumped hydro plants, 4 hydrogen production and 2 hydrogen electricity generation projects and 3 new load projects including green steel manufacturing.
More than $35 billion in potential investment has been reported to have come from 10 wind generation projects, with 8 located offshore, totaling 12.9 GW of generation capacity.
The Energy Corporation of NSW (EnergyCo) will use the information received to inform the timing, capacity, design and location of the REZ. The Illawarra REZ is planned to be formally declared under the NSW government’s Electricity Roadmap legislation by 2022-end.
“The Illawarra REZ will help deliver cheap and reliable energy, power existing industries, support emerging industries to thrive and create thousands of new jobs in the future,” said the state’s Minister for Energy Matt Kean. “This highlights the variety of large-scale energy projects being developed in the region, that will ensure the Illawarra plays a role as the powerhouse of the renewable energy economy.”
Recently, another Australian state of Tasmania identified 25,000 GWh potential renewable energy projects as seeking approval, citing from response received for the ROI round launched for its 1st REZ in June 2022 (see Tasmanian Renewables ROI Received Massive Interest).
