The Minister for Climate Change and Energy has announced 19 renewable energy projects that will add 6.4 gigawatts (GW) of clean energy to the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Electricity Market (NEM). This is enough to power three million homes.
The projects were chosen as part of the Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS) Tender 1 and are located across New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Queensland. Together, they mark a major step towards Australia’s target of 82% renewable electricity by 2030.
The new projects include:
- New South Wales: 7 projects producing 3.7 GW (plus 900 megawatt-hours (MWh) of battery storage)
- Victoria: 7 projects producing 1.6 GW (plus 1,500 MWh of storage)
- South Australia: 2 projects producing 574 megawatts (MW)
- Queensland: 3 projects producing 550 MW (plus 1,200 MWh of storage).
These projects use a mix of:
- solar
- wind
- hybrid technologies (renewables combined with batteries).
Over 40% of projects include battery storage to ensure energy reliability during periods of low sunlight or wind.
Benefits for Communities
Beyond delivering clean energy, the successful projects will deliver broad economic and social benefits, including:
- $660 million for community development initiatives
- $280 million for First Nations benefits
- over $14 billion invested in local suppliers and businesses, driving regional growth
- $60 million allocated to local employment opportunities
- new jobs and training programs, including apprenticeships and renewable energy education initiatives.
Most of these projects are expected to begin operating between 2026 and 2028, helping to lower emissions and improve energy reliability for Australians.
The strong outcomes of Tender 1 and the earlier SA-Vic Pilot Tender highlight the growing interest and confidence in Australia’s renewable energy future.
We encourage all unsuccessful proponents from Tender 1 to refine their proposals and participate in future CIS tenders.
