New gameplay: 17GW bidding plan!

The Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) has received applications for a 17GW renewable energy generation and storage project for its planned Illawarra Renewable Energy Zone (REZ).

According to the state's Energy Minister Matt Kean, the June and July 2022 calls for expressions of interest for the latest Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) received a "huge" response, with interest in offshore wind, energy storage and green hydrogen. Interested.

Five solar PV plants, 16 energy storage projects, four pumped storage projects and 10 wind power plants have been registered, with a potential investment equivalent to A$43 billion ($296 million), according to a statement from the NSW government. One hundred million U.S. dollars). NSW has received project applications for five renewable energy zones so far

Including green steel manufacturing, four hydrogen production projects and two hydrogen power generation projects have also been registered, along with three new load projects.

"This highlights that a variety of large-scale energy projects are being developed in the region, which will ensure Illawarra's role as a renewable energy economic powerhouse," Kean said.

NSW's previous REZ had a higher adoption rate for renewable power generation. Earlier this year, Hunter-Central Coast had 40GW; in February 2022, the Southwest had 34GW; last year, New England had 34GW, and in June 2020, Central-West Orana had 27GW.

A total of five REZs are planned in NSW, with Illawarra being the last area to receive applications for renewable generation and storage, which will help replace coal-fired power stations that will be retired over the next 10-15 years. To accelerate REZ's planned grid connection, the state announced in June 2022 that it would invest $1.2 billion in new transmission lines and infrastructure over the next decade.

EnergyCo NSW, a statutory body controlled by the state government, will use information from this call for interest to determine the timing, design and location of the Illawarra REZ.

IllawarraREZ is expected to be formally announced by the end of 2022 under the NSW Government's electricity roadmap legislation.