Australia’s CIS Tender 8 targets 4 GW/16 GWh clean dispatchable capacity with minimum 2-hour storage at COD
Aggregated projects are eligible, with at least 30 MW total capacity and a minimum of 5 MW per project
Projects with credible pathways and earlier CODs will score higher under financial and reliability criteria
Australia has invited proposals for 4 GW/16 GWh or 4-hour equivalent clean dispatchable capacity under its Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS) – Dispatchable Capacity Tender 8.
The tender is open to aggregated projects comprising multiple stand-alone dispatchable projects. According to the tender documents, the projects must have a minimum storage duration of 2 hours at commercial operation date (COD) and a minimum registered capacity of 30 MW, while each project component within an aggregated project must have a capacity not less than 5 MW.
Selected projects must become operational before December 31, 2030, and they must show a credible pathway. Those with an earlier target COD, supported by credible plans, will score higher on merit criterion 2 (MC2). Those lacking a credible pathway and those with a COD later than the desired date will be considered low merit and not considered eligible for assessment.
The highest MC1 weighs 50% and refers to financial value, system reliability, and system benefits.
Winning facilities will add clean dispatchable energy storage, such as batteries, to the National Electricity Market (NEM).
Projects must store electricity by importing electricity either from the grid or an eligible renewable energy source.
AusEnergy Services Limited (ASL) launched the call on November 28, 2025, setting February 6, 2026, as the last date for bid submissions. Registrations are mandatory to submit bids, which will close on January 23, 2026. Successful bids will be announced in June 2026.
Through the CIS, Australia aims to add an additional 40 GW of wind and solar, and dispatchable capacity to its grid by 2030 to help it achieve an 82% share of renewable energy in its electricity mix by 2030, supported by gas, storage, and transmission.
According to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), this tender will build on the success of the previous rounds, with 18.8 GW announced so far and another 7.2 GW in active tenders.
This tender launch follows CIS Tender 7 for 5 GW renewable energy generation capacity (see Australia Seeks 5 GW RE Capacity Under CIS Tender 7).
