The New South Wales government in Australia has announced a 1.4GW tranche of renewable energy projects awarded contracts in the first of a 10-year rolling tender programme.
Two solar projects, one wind farm and one battery energy storage system secured Long Term Energy Service Agreements (LTESAs), reflecting around A$2.5bn investment.
ACEN Australia won backing for its 720MW New England Solar Farm in the New England Renewable Energy Zone and 400MW Stubbo Solar Farm in the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone.
Goldwind Australia’s 275MW Coppabella Wind Farm in the Southern Tablelands was also successful, alongside RWE Renewables Australia’s 50MW/400MWh Limondale BESS in the South West Renewable Energy Zone.
The renewables tender programme is designed to secure generation capacity to replace the state’s coal-fired power stations, which are due for closure over the coming decade.
NSW has now locked in 4.1GW of its legislated 12GW 2030 renewable generation target.
Minister for Energy Penny Sharpe said: “This tender has shown how much demand there is to invest in NSW to build renewable energy and it is very welcome that this investment will also support 3,300 jobs over the next 10 years.
“The Minns government’s focus will be to ensure that the projects are delivered as quickly as possible.”
The contracts were assessed and awarded by AEMO Services. It expects them to be connected and operational as early as 2025/26.
Further renewable energy tenders are due to be held in NSW every six months.