New England Renewable Tender

ScopeThe New England Renewable Energy Zone REZ will be developed in the area surrounding Armidale in the New England region of NSW and will aim to support the development of up to 8000 megawatts of renewable generation capacity. The REZ was outlined in the NSW Governments 2019 Electricity Strategy identifying its proximity to the existing interconnector between NSW and Queensland numerous potential pumped hydro sites and significant wind resources as key factors determining the REZs location.Transmission upgrades to support the REZ will be proposed and developed over the coming years.The Australian Energy Market Operators AEMO 2020 Integrated Systems Plan ISP estimates that Stage 1 of the transmission component for the New England REZ has a cost of between 720 million and 1.33 billion with a modelled cost of 1.025 billion.AEMOs 2020 ISP estimates that Stage 2 of the transmission component has a cost of between 220 million and 420 million with a modelled cost of 320 million.The scope of works for each stage of the network expansion is yet to be identified.