A landmark series of renewable energy projects will soon deliver clean electricity to more than half of all homes in New South Wales, following the approval of connection rights for ten new developments in the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ).
The projects, which include large-scale wind farms, solar facilities, and battery energy storage systems, represent a combined 7.15 gigawatts of clean energy and storage capacity. When fully operational by 2031, this will be enough to supply power to 2.7 million homes during peak periods while preventing over 10 million tonnes of carbon emissions each year.
The successful projects granted access rights include:
- Valley of the Winds (ACEN) – Wind, 919 MW
- Birriwa Solar (ACEN) – Solar, 600 MW
- Birriwa Battery (ACEN) – Battery, 600 MW
- Sandy Creek Solar (Lightsource bp) – Solar, 700 MW
- Sandy Creek Battery (Lightsource bp) – Battery, 700 MW
- Cobbora Solar (Pacific Partnerships) – Solar, 700 MW
- Cobbora Battery (Pacific Partnerships) – Battery, 400 MW
- Tallawang Solar Hybrid (Potentia Energy) – Solar/Battery, 500 MW
- Spicers Creek Wind Farm (Squadron Energy) – Wind, 700 MW
- Liverpool Range Wind Farm (Tilt Renewables) – Wind, 1,332 MW
The rollout of these projects is expected to create over 3,200 jobs during construction and an additional 870 ongoing positions, including maintenance and operations roles over the next three decades.
Once complete, the REZ is expected to generate 15,000 gigawatt-hours of clean energy annually—significantly strengthening the reliability of the NSW electricity grid and reducing energy costs.
Projects such as Liverpool Range Wind Farm and Birriwa Solar and Battery have already received planning approval, with others undergoing environmental and community consultations.
Together with the recently announced South West REZ developments, more than 10 gigawatts of renewable generation and storage capacity is being added to the state’s energy network—enough to power over 4.3 million homes.
These developments are supported by private investment and long-term community benefit programs, including multi-million-dollar access fee payments that will help fund local infrastructure and services.