NSW Opens Up Crown Lands For Wind & Solar Projects

• NSW has launched an EOI to offer Crown Lands for renewable energy generation
• It will be used for solar or wind energy projects which will be owned and operated by the selected developer
• Aim is to use the land for revenue generation and renewable energy generated will also bring down the state's energy sector carbon emissions

The New South Wales (NSW) government in Australia has invited companies to express their interest in leasing land in agriculture rich Crown Lands to develop solar or wind energy projects, in a bid to use the site for revenue generation and reduce the state's carbon emissions from the energy sector.

Crown Lands represents 42% of the state's land covering rangelands, forests, grasslands, parks, reserves, roads and cemeteries. NSW has a Crown Land 2031 strategy in place which is a 10-year roadmap to support activities to create socio-economic, cultural and environment benefits for the region, including with renewable energy generation.

"The proposed use of Crown land for renewable energy aligns with the Crown land 2031 strategy which includes a goal to accelerate economic progress in regional areas by facilitating new and innovative uses for Crown land," states the NSW government.

Land is being offered near Balranald in the Murray region under the EOI issued by the Office of Energy and Climate Change's Renewable Energy Infrastructure (REII) Program.

Crown Lands' Executive Director of Land and Asset Management Greg Sullivan said the EOI follows assessment of suitable Crown Land sites and agreement with a Western Lands leaseholder on the potential use of their property to support both grazing and a solar or wind energy project.

The EOI is open to organizations or consortia that wish to submit a proposal to lease a single or several parcels of land to develop their renewable energy projects. Winners will be expected to construct and operate the projects. Government sees renewable energy investment on Crown Land to support increased power supplies and security for the region that will also create jobs.

Launched on March 1, 2023, the EOI can be submitted latest till April 17, 2023. Details of the call are available on the state government's tender website.   

Provided there is 'sufficient and viable market interest' discovered in the EOI, the government then plans to follow up with a request for proposal (RFP) round.