The NSW Government is powering ahead with the Illawarra Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) with a registration of interest (ROI) process open to energy project developers and businesses with large electrical loads.
The NSW Government is committed to support the development of the Illawarra REZ which will help strengthen the region’s economy and support jobs for decades.
The Illawarra REZ is the next fundamental step in the development of the NSW Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap and we expect it will deliver cheap, reliable and clean electricity for the homes and businesses of NSW, while supporting new job creation as we shift to a low carbon future.
The ROI is the first step in engaging with industry so there couldn’t be a better time for local projects to register their interest as we take the next steps to design and deliver the Illawarra REZ.
The Energy Corporation of NSW (EnergyCo) invites energy project developers and businesses with large electrical loads to register their interest to take part in the Illawarra REZ.
The ROI will collect information from industry and will be used to inform the best timing, capacity, design and location of the Illawarra REZ. Extensive and meaningful community engagement is as the core of the REZ program and EnergyCo will continue to engage closely with local community, industry, local government and other stakeholders as the design and delivery of the REZ progresses.
The Illawarra region boasts unique features that make it an ideal location for a REZ.
The region already hosts major energy, port and transport infrastructure, has a skilled workforce, has the potential to utilise existing dams for pumped hydro, harness significant offshore wind resource and has a strong demand for future hydrogen projects, including for future green steel production.
Hydrogen projects will play a significant role in the Illawarra REZ and the NSW Government is working toward building its $70 million commitment to develop hydrogen hubs in the Illawarra and Hunter regions.
The Illawarra REZ is a fundamental part of the Roadmap which is expected to deliver $32 billion in private investment, 6,300 construction and 2,800 ongoing jobs, mostly in regional NSW.
The call for registrations of interest will be open for six weeks and close on 22 July 2022.
For more information on the Illawarra REZ and the ROI can be found online.