Our pathway to powering the state with affordable, clean and reliable energy for everyone
The Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap (Roadmap) is delivering the modern electricity network we need now and for the future. It is being built on a mix of renewable technologies including solar and wind farms, large-scale energy storage like big batteries, and new transmission lines.
The Roadmap supports the delivery of at least 12 gigawatts of new renewable energy generation and 2 gigawatts of long-duration storage by 2030. Progress on the Roadmap is well underway. NSW has enough projects signed up to achieve more than 75% of the renewable energy generation needed by 2030, and has contracted enough long duration storage projects to meet the Roadmap’s 2030 and 2034 minimum objectives.
With more than a third of NSW powered by renewable energy, our shift to renewables is already making a positive difference in our everyday lives. We’re upgrading and transforming our electricity network now to deliver more affordable, clean and reliable energy for everyone in NSW.
We’re working together
A range of entities and stakeholders are working together to deliver NSW's plan to bring long-term energy affordability and reliability to everyone. Each has a distinct role. Learn more about the entities delivering the Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap.
Planning renewable energy projects is an important first step toward NSW reaching its renewable energy goals. The NSW Government has collaborated with communities, the renewable energy industry and government agencies to publish the Renewable Energy Planning Framework. The Framework explains how the impacts of renewable energy developments are assessed and managed and includes planning policies and guidelines for wind and solar energy generation and transmission infrastructure. It also includes Benefit Sharing Guidelines, so host communities benefit from renewable energy projects.
The NSW Government has undertaken Regional Major Infrastructure Studies for the Central West Orana and New England regions as part of our commitment to deliver the renewable energy transition in a coordinated way. Learn more about the Studies.
We’re building renewable energy zones
One of the cornerstones of NSW’s energy transition is the delivery of at least five renewable energy zones (REZs) across the state.
A REZ combines:
- Renewable energy generation such as wind and solar
- Storage such as batteries, and
- Network infrastructure such as high-voltage transmission lines.
EnergyCo works with communities, councils and industry to plan and deliver REZs.
We’re accelerating investment
Through the Roadmap, we are accelerating investment in renewable energy. The Roadmap gives industry and investors the certainty they need to invest in the essential infrastructure required to meet our energy needs now and into the future.
The Roadmap is expected to attract up to $77 billion of private investment by 2035. NSW’s five renewable energy zones and priority transmission infrastructure projects are forecast to create around 6,970 jobs during peak construction and 4,450 ongoing jobs – mostly in our regions. The transition is also increasing demand for workers in local manufacturing, retail, transport and the supply of goods and services.
We’re engaging communities
The NSW Government is committed to meaningful engagement with communities, landowners, and First Nations peoples to ensure development complements existing agricultural and primary land uses, reflects local priorities, and retains existing economic activity and social values within these regions.
Learn more about how we’re engaging with communities within renewable energy zones.
We’re prioritising local opportunities
The Electricity Infrastructure Jobs Advocate and NSW Renewable Energy Sector Board help make sure the shift to renewables supports local manufacturing, and creates jobs and training opportunities for local workers.
Learn more about the work of the Jobs Advocate and NSW Renewable Energy Sector Board.
How we track our progress
Delivery of the Roadmap is well underway. We use a number of different metrics to help us track our progress, including:
- Progress to our renewable energy goal: The Roadmap sets out a coordinated way forward to support private investment in at least 12 gigawatts of renewable energy generation and 2 gigawatts of long duration storage by 2030, and even more over time. We measure our progress toward this goal by calculating the contribution of projects in operation and projects underway.
- Projects in operation: These are projects that are delivering electricity to the grid or storing electricity from the grid or a grid-related project. The output from a project in operation contributes to the Roadmap’s minimum objectives for renewable energy generation and storage.
- Projects underway: These are projects that were committed after November 2019, have passed through several important development milestones and are on the pathway to construction.
