NSW grants Central-West Orana REZ access rights to 10 RE projects

These can power over 2.5 million homes.

The New South Wales government has granted access rights to Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) to 7.15 gigawatts of renewable energy projects.

In a statement, the government said the 10 projects include renewable energy and storage capacity. These are:

• 919 megawatt (MW) Valley of the Winds (wind farm) – ACEN
• 600 MW Birriwa Solar (solar facility) – ACEN
• 600 MW Birriwa Battery Energy Storage System (battery storage) – ACEN 
• 700 MW Sandy Creek Solar (solar facility) – Lightsource bp 
• 700 MW Sandy Creek Battery Energy Storage System (battery) – Lightsource bp
• 700 MW Cobbora Solar (solar facility) – Pacific Partnerships
• 400 MW Cobbora Battery Energy Storage System (battery) – Pacific Partnerships 
• 500 MW Tallawang Solar Hybrid (solar and battery facility) – Potentia Energy 
• 700 MW Spicers Creek Wind Farm (wind farm) – Squadron Energy
• 1,332 MW Liverpool Range Wind Farm (stages 1 and 2) (wind farm) – Tilt Renewables

These will be able to energise 2.7 million homes by 2031 in peak periods, and avoid 10.29 million tonnes of carbon emissions per year.

The ten projects are expected to bring more than 3,200 jobs to the region during construction and 870 ongoing operations and maintenance roles, over the average 30-year agreement.

When fully operational, the renewable energy projects in the REZ are expected to generate 15,000 gigawatt-hours of energy per year.

Liverpool Range Wind Farm, Birriwa Solar and Battery Energy Storage System and Spicers Creek Wind Farm have secured planning approvals and are moving through the next phases of development. The remaining projects are subject to planning approval processes, including ongoing community consultation.