Our pathway to powering the state with affordable, clean and reliable energy for everyone
The Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap (Roadmap) is delivering the network we need now and for the future. It will be built on a mix of renewable technologies, including solar and wind farms, large-scale energy storage like pumped hydro and big batteries, and new transmission infrastructure.
The Roadmap supports the delivery of at least 12 gigawatts of new renewable energy generation and 2 gigawatts of long-duration storage by 2030. As we accelerate towards these goals, we are steadily moving away from coal fired power towards renewable energy in a way that will benefit communities of NSW.
With one in three households generating power using rooftop solar, renewable energy is already making a positive difference in our everyday lives. We’re upgrading and transforming our electricity network now to deliver more affordable, clean and reliable energy for everyone in NSW.
We’re working together
A range of entities and stakeholders are working together to deliver on NSW's plan to bring long-term energy affordability and reliability to everyone. Each entity has a distinct role in the coordination, monitoring and oversight of the plan’s implementation.
Learn more about the entities delivering the Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap here.
Planning for renewable energy projects is an important first step toward NSW reaching its renewable energy goals. The NSW Government has collaborated with communities, the renewable energy industry and government agencies to release the Renewable Energy Planning Framework. The Framework explains how the impacts of renewable energy developments are assessed and managed and includes planning policies and guidelines for wind and solar energy generation and transmission infrastructure. It also includes Benefit Sharing Guidelines, so host communities benefit from renewable energy projects.
You can read more about the key themes of consultation for the Framework and actions being taken by the NSW Government in the Renewable Energy Transition Update.
We’re building Renewable Energy Zones
One of the cornerstones of our plan is the delivery of at least five Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) across NSW.
REZs have been selected for their abundant renewable energy resources. To deliver more affordable and reliable energy to people across the state, REZs combine:
- Renewable energy generation such as wind and solar,
- Storage such as batteries, and
- Network infrastructure such as high-voltage poles and wires.
EnergyCo is responsible for planning the location of Renewable Energy Zones and contracting and overseeing the suppliers delivering the transmission network infrastructure required to connect the generation built in a REZ to the electricity grid.
Find out more about REZs here.
We’re accelerating investment
Through the Roadmap, we are accelerating investment in renewable energy. The Roadmap gives industry and investors the certainty they need to invest in the essential infrastructure required to bring long-term energy affordability and reliability for everyone.
The Roadmap is expected to attract $32 billion of private investment into the NSW economy and create an estimated 9,000 new jobs, primarily in regional areas, with demand for workers, local manufacturing, retail, and transport in the construction phase, as well as ongoing roles.
Credit: Toby Zerna/EnergyCo
We’re engaging communities
The NSW Government is committed to meaningful engagement with communities, landowners, and First Nations peoples to ensure development complements existing agricultural and primary land uses, reflects local priorities, and retains existing economic activity and social values within these regions.
We’re prioritising local opportunities
The Electricity Infrastructure Jobs Advocate and NSW Renewable Energy Sector Board have been established to ensure the transition to renewables promotes and supports locally manufactured and supplied goods and employment and training opportunities for local workers.
Learn more about the work of the Jobs Advocate and NSW Renewable Energy Sector Board here.
How we track our progress
Delivery of the Roadmap is well underway. We use a number of different metrics to help us track our progress, including:
- Progress to our renewable energy goal: The Roadmap sets out a coordinated way forward to support private investment in at least 12 gigawatts of renewable energy generation and 2 gigawatts of long duration storage by 2030, and even more over time. We measure our progress toward this goal by calculating the contribution of projects in operation and projects underway.
- Projects in operation: These are projects that are delivering electricity to the grid or storing electricity from the grid or a grid-related project. The output from a project in operation contributes to the renewable energy goal.
- Roadmap projects in operation: These are projects that have been awarded a Long-Term Service Agreement (LTESA) or Access Right and are delivering electricity to the grid or storing electricity from the grid or a grid-related project. The capacity from a Roadmap project in operation contributes to the renewable energy goal.
- Projects underway: These are projects that were committed after November 2019, and have passed through several important development milestones and are on the pathway to construction. A subset of these projects are Roadmap projects, which have been awarded a Long-Term Service Agreement (LTESA) through a competitive tender process or Access Rights.