EnergyCo

🌟 A major milestone in NSW’s renewable energy future 🌟 We are excited to announce that the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) transmission project has secured planning approval! 🎉 This marks a historic achievement as the first REZ in Australia to reach this critical step, paving the way for the construction of important transmission infrastructure. Once complete, the project will deliver at least 4.5 gigawatts of transmitted electricity, significantly boosting the region's renewable energy capacity. The project is expected to attract up to $20 billion in private investment and support around 5,000 construction jobs at its peak.  This approval follows meticulous technical planning and extensive community consultation. The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), exhibited in late 2023, includes measures to minimizse potential environmental and community impacts. With NSW planning approval secured, EnergyCo will now finalise remaining regulatory approvals, award the final contract with the network operator, and achieve financial close in the second half of 2024. Construction is set to begin from late 2024, with initial operations anticipated in 2028.  This is a significant step forward in ensuring clean, reliable, and affordable energy for all households and businesses in NSW. #RenewableEnergy #Sustainability #GreenFuture #RenewableEnergyZone #CentralWestOrana #Australia

Local construction-related businesses in the Central-West Orana district are invited to learn about opportunities for work on building transmission lines within the Renewable Energy Zone. Industry forums start Monday 29 July. For more info and to register, click here. https://lnkd.in/gQgW7g3Z   These works comprise early earth works, drainage, fencing, and other elements of civil construction for the transmission lines.   We want to help local business take advantage of this opportunity.   The forums will give businesses insight into upcoming tender opportunities, scope of works, networking opportunities, business support and resources available to apply for the work packages. The events will be held in Wellington, Dubbo, Mudgee, Coolah, Cassilis and Dunedoo.   The Central-West Orana REZ is expected to create around 5,000 job opportunities in building the transmission and storage network. It is anticipated to bring lasting economic benefits to the region, attracting up to $20 billion in private investment by 2030 and fostering a sustainable energy future for NSW.   We hope you will join us!

We are attending the NSW Farmers Annual Conference 2024 in Sydney today and tomorrow. Our goal is to listen, engage, and collaborate with the community to strengthen relationships and work towards common goals. We look forward to participating in discussions on rural affairs, business, environment, and livestock, with an emphasis on promoting sustainable agricultural practices that benefit everyone involved. #EnergyCo #NSWFarmers #OpenDialogue #SustainableAgriculture #RegionalDevelopment

Yesterday, Chloe Hicks, our Executive Director of Strategy & Policy, spoke on a panel alongside Doris Spielthenner, Kate Summers, Kasia Kulbacka, David Osmond and Ellise Janetzki (Harmer), at the Australian Clean Energy Summit 2024. She discussed how far the NSW renewable energy sector has come in the past decade and the huge opportunity each Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) provides as a ‘step change’ in meeting our 2030 targets. This includes Central-West Orana REZ offering at least 5.84 GW of generation capacity as part of the current access rights process. The panel also discussed the importance of long-term planning including future proofing technical solutions and fostering social licence in host communities. #REZs #CleanEnergy #RenewableEnergy #Sustainability #NSW #EnergyTransition #ACES2024 Photo by Anna Freeman from Clean Energy Council

How can councils and businesses in NSW’s Renewable Energy Zones tap into the clean energy being generated in their own backyards? Power purchase agreements are a fantastic way to do this, but they can be complicated to navigate. That’s why we’ve partnered with the Business Renewables Centre Australia to deliver a program that gives councils and businesses the knowledge and practical tools they need to negotiate and get the most from power purchase agreements. The program has already kicked off in the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone, and we’ll soon be announcing sessions for organisations in the New England and Hunter-Central Coast Zones. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gKtZwjwm

Exciting news for the Central-West Orana region The NSW Government has officially launched the Community and Employment Benefit Program, dedicated to delivering direct benefits to regional communities. This initiative is poised to bring significant positive impacts to the local area, funded by access scheme fees from solar and wind projects connecting to new transmission lines. Under Stage 1, EnergyCo will distribute over $70 million through four grant streams aimed at supporting community groups, local councils, and First Nations organisations in the Central-West Orana REZ: 🌟 Local Community Small Grants: $500,000 for small-scale projects that deliver tangible benefits for local communities. Applicants can apply for up to $50,000. 🌟 First Nations Fund: $10 million for projects that empower local Aboriginal organisations, create employment and participation opportunities, and enhance outcomes for Aboriginal people. Applicants can apply for up to $1,000,000. 🌟 Local Community Fund: $15 million to improve local amenities and foster stronger community connections. Applicants can apply for up to $1,000,000. 🌟 Legacy Infrastructure Fund: $45 million for eligible councils to work with communities to deliver infrastructure projects that boost liveability and drive regional economic development. 📅 Stay tuned for further funding rounds that will be progressively rolled out this year. Watch our Executive Director of Planning and Communities, Ash Albury, explain more about this key initiative in the video below. #RenewableEnergy #CommunityDevelopment #RegionalNSW #EnergyTransition

EnergyCo and ACEREZ are hosting a series of industry forums in the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) between 29 July and 6 August 2024. Local and Aboriginal businesses in Australia’s first REZ are invited to attend the industry forums to hear more about the opportunities the REZ transmission project will bring to the region. These forums mark the release of new work packages for constructing transmission lines. Work packages are contracts to deliver goods and/or services required for the early works and construction delivery of the REZ transmission project. They will be made available from mid-July with more planned over the next year for tender opportunities across various categories.  Interested? Click the link to learn more and register to attend a forum that suits you best. https://lnkd.in/gQgW7g3Z

🌟 NAIDOC Week Spotlight: Meet Rodney Groves, our Aboriginal Engagement Officer 🌟 Today, during NAIDOC Week, we're shining a spotlight on Rodney Groves, our Aboriginal Engagement Officer for the Hunter Transmission Project — one of NSW's most critical energy projects. Rodney is a proud Kamilaroi man whose family has resided on Awabakal lands for over five generations. He plays a pivotal role in our community team, working closely with the Aboriginal community and traditional owners to minimise the impacts and maximise the benefits of the project for the Aboriginal community. Rodney's role at EnergyCo includes: ⚡  Engaging with the Aboriginal community to ensure their voices are heard in the Hunter Transmission Project  ⚡  Leading communication and engagement initiatives within the project  ⚡  Utilising his leadership experience in education and Aboriginal organisations including Biraban Local Aboriginal Land Council   Join us in celebrating Rodney and the EnergyCo team's efforts to transition to clean, reliable, and affordable energy for NSW. Happy NAIDOC Week! 

Testing is underway for the Waratah Super Battery!   Our Waratah Super Battery and Technical Services teams recently visited Akaysha Energy’s Test Bench at Consolidated Power Projects Australia Pty Ltd depot in Sydney.   The Test Bench is where Akaysha demonstrates the systems that will make the battery work in its capacity as a System Integrity Protection Scheme service when it goes live next year.   It includes a control room, a power conversion system by eks Energy, a Powin energy battery energy storage system and real-time power management with the Power Plant Controller.   The visit gave us an opportunity to simulate the operation of the features that the Waratah Super Battery will use, and is a look ahead for this project that is critical for NSW’s energy reliability.

Our team members Darren Clarke and Alexandra Hall are in Toowoomba today to attend the National Renewables in Agriculture Conference, which EnergyCo is a proud sponsor of. Darren and Alex are looking forward to sharing insights around the opportunities to build partnerships with agricultural landowners, enhance the coexistence of renewables with agricultural activities and foster community support for the great work we do at EnergyCo. Post and image courtesy of Darren Clarke.