Hitachi Energy selected for Central-West Orana REZ

Wind turbines and solar panels against beautiful sky (gamuda)
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Hitachi Energy has been selected to design, supply, and supervise the installation of high-voltage circuit breakers and disconnectors (up to 500kV) for the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ)—the first REZ in New South Wales.

Related article: Work to begin on Australia’s first renewable energy zone

Hitachi Energy will work with the network operator, ACEREZ, a partnership of ACCIONA, COBRA and Endeavour Energy to deliver, develop, and maintain the network. The REZ is expected to deliver 4.5GW of new network capacity by 2028.

Hitachi Energy’s circuit breakers and disconnectors are critical components of the transmission infrastructure for the REZ project, enabling easier and more efficient integration of renewables and smoother power transfer.

The Central-West Orana REZ is part of the NSW Government’s Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap, which will transform the electricity system towards the state’s legislated 12GW target of renewable energy generation and 2GW of long-duration storage by 2030.

“Together with the NSW Government and ACEREZ, we are enabling NSW to meet its ambitious renewable energy targets by harnessing abundant solar and wind resources and moving towards a carbon-neutral energy future,” Hitachi Energy country managing director Bernard Norton said.

Related article: Transgrid and Zinfra to upgrade network for NSW’s first REZ

Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) are the equivalent of modern-day power stations. They combine renewable energy infrastructure, including generators (such as solar and wind farms) storage (such as batteries and pumped hydro) and high-voltage transmission infrastructure.

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