The federal government has approved a new transmission line for the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) in New South Wales, which will add at least 4.5GW of network capacity to the grid.
Related article: How Australia can fast-track its energy transmission projects
The Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) transmission project will deliver new transmission lines to connect reliable renewable energy generation and storage projects within the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone in regional NSW to the national electricity network.
The project is expected to drive up to $20 billion in private investment in solar, wind and energy storage projects, supporting around 5,000 jobs during peak construction.
The approval is subject to more than 40 strict conditions to protect nature, including limiting clearance to avoid and mitigate impacts on threatened species.
Minister for the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek said, “I’ve ticked off more than 55 renewable energy projects in two years—enough to power more than three million Australian homes.
Related article: Heli-stringing project connects wind farm to the grid
“We’re getting on with the job of modernising our electricity grid to support them, and this project is another big step.”
