The Renewable Energy Sector Board (the Board) was established in February 2021 under Section 7 of the Electricity Infrastructure Investment Act 2020. The Board helps make sure local workers, communities, and industries share in the economic benefits of the transition to a more affordable, clean and reliable electricity system.
- Dominic Adams, General Manager, Networks, Energy Networks Australia
- Ash Albury, Executive Director, Energy Corporation of NSW (EnergyCo)
- Anthony (Tony) Callinan, NSW Branch Secretary, Australian Workers Union
- Mark Cain, Chief Executive, Australian Steel Institute
- Bridgette Carter, Project Director, Advanced Steel Manufacturing Precinct (ASMaP), BlueScope
- John Coyle, Director, Varley Group
- Alison Goodwin, National Research and Policy Officer, Mining and Energy Union
- Allen Hicks, NSW Branch Secretary, Electrical Trades Union
- Heidi Norman, Professor (Research) at the Indigenous Land and Justice Research Group, Arts Design & Architecture UNSW
- Andrew Newman, Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary, Tomago Aluminium
- Bradley Pidgeon, NSW & ACT Acting State Secretary, Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union
- Craig Memery, Senior Advisor, Energy, Public Interest Advocacy Centre
- Brian Spak, Director, Energy Consumers Australia
- Anita Talberg, Policy Director, Workforce Development, Clean Energy Council
Review of the Board’s Plan
The Board has completed the review of its plan for the renewable energy sector. The review confirms how the plan reduces supply chain risks and identifies opportunities and challenges for the implementation of the NSW Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap. The review also updates the Board’s advice to renew focus on and accelerate building capability and capacity in the sector.
To inform the review of the plan, the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (the Department) commissioned a report to explain and measure the strategic benefits of localising renewable energy supply chains in NSW.
The Board developed a plan for the NSW renewable energy sector to achieve objectives in relation to the construction of generation, storage and network infrastructure in a cost-effective way. These objectives include:
- the use of locally produced and supplied goods and services
- employment of suitable qualified local workers
- opportunities for apprentices and trainees.
The Board’s plan also advises the NSW Government on additional actions intended to drive sustainable growth and competitiveness of local industries and realise benefits for local workers and communities.
The NSW Government supports, or supports in principle, all 15 of the Board’s recommendations. Download a copy of the NSW Government’s response to the NSW Renewable Energy Sector Board’s advice.
To inform development of the Board’s plan, the Department commissioned the following studies:
- ACIL Allen’s Consumer costs and economic benefits for Renewable Energy Sector Board’s Plan
- MBB Group’s Supply Chain Analysis Report: NSW Electricity Infrastructure
- MBB Group’s WHS Baseline and Opportunities Study: Renewable Energy Sector
- ISF and SGS Economics and Planning’s Employment, Skills and Supply Chains: Renewable Energy in NSW – Final Report
- ISF and SGS Economics and Planning’s Employment, Skills and Supply Chains: Renewable Energy in NSW – Appendices
Process to increase recommended Local Content Requirements
The Board’s plan sets out recommendations to the Minister and Consumer Trustee on minimum local content requirements for generation, network and storage projects under the Roadmap.
These local content requirements cover goods and services for the construction and operation of Roadmap infrastructure. They include materials, equipment, components and services produced in Australia and New Zealand.
The Board has developed a process to increase local content requirements over time, to provide greater certainty to businesses seeking to make investments in local supply chains for the renewable energy sector.
The Board’s process:
- links future increases in local content requirements with investment decisions
- considers Australia’s trade obligations
- considers the financial interests of NSW electricity consumers
- is not a grants program.
Submission guidelines
The Board welcomes market-led submissions to increase the Board’s recommended local content requirements through the DCCEEW grants management system. The Submission Guidelines outline:
- The information required in a submission
- How to make a submission
- How submissions will be assessed by the Board
The process is open to:
Submissions from Proponents are invited at any time. Assessments will follow this indicative annual cycle:
- Stage 1 – November to March: Preliminary Assessment
- Stage 2 – April to October: Detailed Assessment
- Stage 3 – August to December: Approval of recommended changes to local content requirements.
- If you have any questions, please email [email protected].
Frequently Asked Questions about the process to increase Local Content Requirements
The following are to be read in conjunction with the Process Overview and Submission Guidelines.
Australian and New Zealand small and medium enterprises, and Australian Aboriginal businesses, are eligible to apply.
Any project that provides goods and services for the construction and operation of Roadmap infrastructure can apply. This includes materials, equipment, components and services produced in Australia and New Zealand.
Yes. A detailed proposal with all information for Stage 2 can be submitted during Stage 1 and if considered by the Board of sufficient strategic importance it may be assessed during the Stage 1 period.
Yes. Entities delivering the Roadmap must take into account the Board’s plan including any increases to recommended local content requirements in their Tender assessment frameworks. These entities also have responsibility for monitoring, reporting and compliance with local content commitments.
Stage 1 closes at 5 pm 28 March 2025; Stage 2 closes at 5 pm 31 July 2025.
Stage 1 outcomes will be communicated in May 2025; Stage 2 outcomes will be communicated in September 2025.
A single proposal may be submitted provided the multiple criteria and/or multiple project requirements are itemised in the response so they can be assessed separately and together.
Yes. Please register as a SmartyGrants user (free) via the DCCEEW website.
Direct questions to: [email protected]