The Australian Government has selected 20 renewable generation and storage projects in its fourth Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS) tender, which attracted projects totalling 25.6GW in renewable capacity—more than four times the 6GW target.
Related article: First long-duration storage tender for South Australia
Twelve projects include large-scale batteries, with a combined storage capacity of 3.5GW/11.4GWh or enough to support the peak load of over 2.6 million households for four hours.
Almost half of the total generation capacity will be delivered by wind projects, including Tasmania’s first CIS project, the Bell Bay Wind Farm, reflecting strong investment in Australia’s wind industry.
Together, the successful projects have committed an estimated $291 million in shared community benefits and $348 million in First Nations benefits such as revenue sharing agreements, First Nations subcontracting, training, and workforce development.
Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen said, “The Capacity Investment Scheme continues to be popular and competitive, delivering cheaper, cleaner and more reliable energy for all Australians for years to come.
“We are rebuilding Australia’s energy grid to make it modern, reliable and fair and attracting global interest in our wind and solar.
“The scheme is not only delivering clean power, but also creating thousands of high quality jobs, often in remote and rural areas, and opportunities to train the next generation of engineers, electricians and tradespeople who will build our energy future.”
Related article: Lithium-ion battery projects lead landmark CIS tender
Successful projects in CIS Tender 4 are as follows:
Project |
Proponent |
Technology |
Capacity MW |
State |
Bell Bay Wind Farm |
Equis |
Wind |
224 |
Tas |
Bendemeer Energy Hub |
Athena Energy Australia |
Solar + battery |
252 |
NSW |
Bundey BESS and Solar |
Genaspi Energy Group |
Solar + battery |
240 |
SA |
Carmody’s Hill Wind Farm |
Aula Energy |
Wind |
247 |
SA |
Corop Solar Farm and BESS |
BNRG Leeson |
Solar + battery |
230 |
Vic |
Derby Solar Project |
Sungrow |
Solar + battery |
95 |
Vic |
Dinawan Wind Farm (Stage 1) |
Spark Renewables |
Wind |
357 |
NSW |
Gawara Baya |
Windlab |
Wind + battery |
399 |
Qld |
Guthrie’s Gap Solar Power Station |
Edify Energy |
Solar + battery |
300 |
Qld |
Hexham Wind Farm |
AGL |
Wind |
600 |
Vic |
Liverpool Range Wind Stage 1 |
Tilt Renewables |
Wind |
634 |
NSW |
Lower Wonga Solar Farm |
Lightsource BP |
Solar |
281 |
Qld |
Merino Solar Farm |
EDPR |
Solar + battery |
450 |
NSW |
Middlebrook Solar Farm |
TotalEnergies Total Energies Renewables Australia Pty Ltd |
Solar + battery |
363 |
NSW |
Moah Creek Wind Farm |
Central Queensland Power (CQP) |
Wind |
360 |
Qld |
Nowingi Solar Power Station |
Edify Energy |
Solar + battery |
300 |
Vic |
Punchs Creek Solar Farm |
EDPR |
Solar + battery |
400 |
Qld |
Smoky Creek Solar Power Station |
Edify Energy |
Solar + battery |
300 |
Qld |
Tallawang Solar Hybrid |
Potentia Energy |
Solar + battery |
500 |
NSW |
Willogoleche 2 Wind Farm |
ENGIE and Foresight |
Wind |
108 |
SA |