Five zones have been declared by the NSW Government to help replace ageing NSW coal-fired power, to deliver cleaner, more affordable and more reliable energy to NSW homes and businesses.
Typically for generation and storage projects to connect to a REZ, they require an Access Right. Projects compete for an Access Right in AEMO Services competitive tenders, and projects needing both an Access Right and an LTESA must bid for both products simultaneously in a single competitive tender round.
EnergyCo is the Infrastructure Planner for the first five REZ, and has developed the Access Right to help support better outcomes for communities, consumers and project proponents. Find out more about Renewable Energy Zones.
Access schemes are a key part of the NSW Government’s plan to coordinate and encourage renewable energy and storage investment in Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) and realise the objectives of the NSW Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap (the Roadmap) and the Electricity Infrastructure Investment Act 2020 (the Act).
An access scheme is intended to enable efficient investment in generation, storage and transmission infrastructure in the long-term interest of consumers while delivering positive outcomes for local and First Nations communities.
Generation and storage projects that wish to connect to network infrastructure which is subject to an access scheme will need to apply for an access right through a competitive tender. Access right holders will be charged access fees that include components to fund community benefit and employment programs.