Newly approved NSW transmission project to secure renewable energy capacity and power 1.8 million homes
The project, which forms part of the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), will establish new transmission lines to link renewable energy generation and storage projects in the region to the national grid.
The Federal Government has given the green light to a new transmission project designed to increase network capacity by at least 4.5 gigawatts. This capacity boost is expected to power 1.8 million homes in New South Wales.
The project has received $490 million in funding from the Rewiring the Nation Fund and is projected to lower electricity costs for Australian households by $240 million. It's also anticipated to stimulate up to $20 billion in private investment in solar, wind, and energy storage projects, creating approximately 5,000 jobs during peak construction.
The project comes with over 40 environmental conditions to ensure the protection of wildlife, including measures to limit habitat clearance to reduce impacts on threatened species.
According to Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek, "We’re getting on with the job of modernising our electricity grid to support them, and this project is another big step."
She added, "I’ve ticked off more than 55 renewable energy projects in two years - enough to power more than three million Australian homes."
This initiative aligns with the government’s broader effort to transition Australia’s energy system towards more sustainable sources and ensure reliable power supply.
