Australia’s Largest Ever Single Tender For Renewable Energy

AEMO Services Invites Bids For 6 GW Renewable Electricity Generation Across National Electricity Market

Australia’s 1st CIS Tender 1 has distributed 6 GW capacity across various regions in the NEM with NSW getting the largest chunk. (Photo Credit: AEMO Services)

Published on:

May 31, 2024, 2:23 pm

Australia has officially launched its maiden renewable energy tender under CIS
It seeks 6 GW of renewable energy generation capacity spread across the NEM region
It is part of the 32 GW renewable energy capacity the federal government plans to deploy by 2030

Australia's federal government has launched an indicative 6 GW of renewable electricity generation tender under its Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS), across the National Electricity Market (NEM). This is the country's largest ever single tender for renewable energy.

Dubbed CIS Tender I, it targets to source 6 GW capacity across the country, allocating a minimum of 2.2 GW (capped at 3.7 GW) in New South Wales (NSW), 1.4 GW in Victoria, and 300 MW each in South Australia and Tasmania. The remaining 1.8 GW will be allocated to projects across the NEM based on their merit, said AEMO Services that's implementing the tender process.

The minimum project capacity to be entertained under the tender is 30 MW, which will come from an eligible renewable energy source. It should be eligible to create large-scale generation certificates under the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000. Winning projects must be completed by 2027.

The tender was launched on May 31, 2024. Project registrations will close on June 19, 2024, and project bids close on July 1, 2024. Details are available on the AEMO Services website.

Through the CIS, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese-led Australian government targets to deploy 32 GW of renewable and clean dispatchable capacity by 2030 to replace aging coal power stations. This includes solar, wind and battery storage, among others (see Australia Set To Launch 'Largest Single Ever' RE Tender).

"24 coal plants totaling 26.7 GW announced closure dates under the former Government and the Australian Energy Market Operator has confirmed we need generation now for reliability as more than 90 per cent of our coal generation leaves the market over the next decade – that's exactly what our Reliable Renewables Plan is doing," said Australia's Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen.

Going forward, the CIS will regularly hold a competitive tender process every 6 months until 2027 to deliver a total

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