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.
Download the Geographic Information Systems zip file of the Hunter-Central Coast geographical area boundary.
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: