Introduction
EnergyCo is in the early stages of planning a Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) in the Hunter and Central Coast regions on the lands of the Awabakal, Bahtabah, Biraban, Darkinjung, Mindaribba, Wanaruah and Worimi people.
Why the region was chosen
The Hunter and Central Coast regions have unique features which make them ideal locations for a REZ. These regions have excellent renewable energy resources and can utilise existing power stations, rehabilitated mining land, electricity network infrastructure, port and transport infrastructure and a skilled workforce.
The Hunter-Central Coast REZ will ensure these regions have a key role in a renewable energy future, powering existing industries and supporting economic growth, including emerging technology in green hydrogen, ammonia and metal production, offshore wind, electric vehicle fleet operators and electrification of industrial processes.
Beginning in 2021, EnergyCo undertook a geospatial mapping analysis investigation of the Hunter and Central Coast regions to identify a nominal boundary for the REZ. Read more about the methodology for defining the geographical area here.
EnergyCo will work closely with local community and regional stakeholders on the design, location and delivery of the Hunter-Central Coast REZ.
Planning, designing and building new electricity network infrastructure in the Hunter and Central Coast regions requires a detailed understanding of the regions’ future large energy users and renewable energy projects. By increasing manufacturing, agriculture and export opportunities, this REZ will also provide significant opportunities and benefits to the Hunter and Central Coast regions.
Visit Ausgrid's stand at the Tocal Field Days, 2-4 May.
Join an Ausgrid information session to learn about the HCC REZ and share your thoughts on the project at sessions with Ausgrid.
Thursday 15 May 2025 - 4pm - 6pm
Singleton Library
Wednesday 21 May 2025 - 4pm - 6pm
Muswellbrook Library
Thursday 22 May 2025 - 4pm - 6pm
Branxton Community Hall
Sunday 25 May 2025 - 9pm - 12pm
Valley Markets Singleton
Online webinars - register via yoursay.ausgrid.com.au/HCCREZ
Monday 19 May 6:30pm - 7:15pm
Tuesday 20 May 12:30pm - 1:15pm
For additional information, visit Ausgrid's engagement hub.
To have your say about the HCC REZ project, complete the community survey here.
Between December 2021 and February 2022, EnergyCo ran a Registration of Interest (ROI) process for the Hunter-Central Coast REZ. This was the first step in engaging with industry on the design of the REZ.
The Hunter-Central Coast REZ attracted a significant response with commercial interest in renewable generation and storage projects representing almost 40 gigawatts and more than $100 billion of potential investment.
In summary, these commercial parties registered interest in:
- 24 solar energy projects,
- 13 onshore and seven offshore wind energy projects,
- 35 large-scale batteries, and
- eight pumped hydro projects.
In addition to this investment in clean energy generation and storage, the Hunter-Central Coast REZ will underpin the growth of new low carbon industries such as green hydrogen, ammonia and metals production, which could service both domestic and export markets as the world decarbonises and shifts towards increased green manufacturing.
The Hunter-Central Coast REZ was formally declared by the Minister for Energy under section 19(1) of the Electricity Infrastructure Investment Act 2020 (the Act) and published in the NSW Gazette on 9 December 2022. View the REZ (Hunter-Central Coast) Declaration Order here.
The REZ declaration is the first step in formalising the REZ under the Act and establishes EnergyCo as the Infrastructure Planner responsible for coordinating the development of the REZ. It also sets out the intended network capacity (size), geographical area (location) and infrastructure that will make up the REZ, and enables and sets the scope of key legislative functions under the Act, including access schemes and REZ network solutions (referred to in the Act as ‘REZ network infrastructure projects’).
As the Infrastructure Planner for the Hunter-Central Coast REZ, EnergyCo will work with network operators to deliver any required augmentations to transmission infrastructure.
The modernisation of the Hunter-Central Coast electricity system will assist industries to decarbonise and access cleaner, cheaper and more reliable renewable energy by connecting new renewable energy and storage projects.
The declaration follows an assessment of feedback received during the draft declaration exhibition held between 28 September and 26 October 2022. All consultation feedback was addressed and did not result in any changes being made to the geographical area, network capacity or specified network infrastructure in the (final) declaration order.
A stylised map of the geographical area of the REZ is included above for reference. It includes the existing 132 kV, 330 kV and 500 kV transmission infrastructure near and in the REZ as a geographical reference. You can download the GIS file of the Hunter-Central Coast geographical area boundary here.
In the future, the Minister may amend the declaration to expand the specified geographical area of the REZ, increase the intended network capacity, specify additional generation, storage and network infrastructure, provide further details and specifications or correct a minor error.
Intended network capacity
The declaration sets out the intended network capacity for network infrastructure in the Hunter-Central Coast REZ of 1 gigawatt.
The ROI for the Hunter-Central Coast REZ identified over 2 gigawatts of generation from onshore wind and solar generation projects located in the Upper Hunter near Muswellbrook. The initial intended network capacity of 1 gigawatt would be sufficient to cater for the expected generation in this area given the variable nature of wind and solar energy generation.
Importantly, the capacity of the Hunter-Central Coast REZ is likely to increase over time with the retirement of coal-fired power stations, re-purposing of mining land and the growth of offshore wind.
The Hunter-Central Coast REZ intended network capacity of 1 gigawatt does not include the Hunter Transmission Project which would deliver up to 8 gigawatts of additional transfer capacity from inland REZs to support the decarbonisation of existing industries (such as Tomago Aluminium) and the growth of emerging technologies (such as hydrogen).
As the Infrastructure Planner for the Hunter-Central Coast REZ, we are responsible for ensuring that new network infrastructure is developed to connect the REZ to the existing grid, delivering affordable electricity to NSW.
To achieve this outcome, we are leading the delivery of the Hunter-Central Coast REZ Network Infrastructure Project. This process included running a competitive tender process to appoint a network operator to deliver, operate and maintain the REZ network.
We’ve recommended to the Consumer Trustee that it authorise Ausgrid to carry out the Hunter-Central Coast REZ Network Infrastructure Project with construction starting in 2025, initial capacity available by early 2026 and full capacity expected by 2028. The commitment deed with Ausgrid was signed in December 2024.
As the Infrastructure Planner, EnergyCo developed an Infrastructure Planner Recommendation Report to make its recommendations for the Hunter-Central Coast REZ Network Infrastructure Project to the Consumer Trustee, under the Electricity Infrastructure Investment Act 2020.
The Public Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) Infrastructure Planner Recommendation Report is available here:
The report outlines our assessment and recommendations for the network infrastructure needed to connect renewable energy and storage projects within the REZ to the electricity grid. It provides the Consumer Trustee with recommendations on the network infrastructure project that will form the REZ and the network operator to deliver it.
See updates about the Hunter-Central Coast REZ here.