Transmission lines to power the renewable energy zone

Transmission lines stretching hundreds of kilometers have been approved to connect a key renewable energy area to the grid, paving the way for work to begin on the project.

The New South Wales Government has welcomed Australia’s first approval for the construction of transmission infrastructure into a designated Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) following approval for the mid-west Orana project.

The area near Dubbo is also the first nationally declared renewable energy zone and is expected to attract around $20 billion in private investment.

It should provide at least 4.5 gigawatts of electricity, enough to power 1.8 million homes.

Large-scale solar, wind and energy storage projects will be part of the 20,000-square-kilometre centre.

Energy Minister Penny Sharpe said the government would work closely with local communities, some of whom oppose the prospect of transmission lines running through farms and forests.

“This is the first REZ transmission project in the country to gain planning approval, paving the way for a significant increase in renewable energy generation to replace aging coal-fired power plants,” she said.

“It’s not just about clean energy, this project will deliver long-term financial benefits to both NSW electricity consumers and the local communities that will host the REZ.”

The project would be crucial to New South Wales meeting its net zero emissions commitments by 2050, the government said.

Official projections indicate that the country will not meet its emissions reduction targets for 2030 and 2035 based on current measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The approval follows calls for large transmission line projects to be built underground rather than on land, with supporters citing reduced bushfire risk and the potential to protect farms.

However, this suggestion was rejected due to increased costs and time consumption.

NSW Nationals leader Dugald Saunders said landowners felt let down and left to fend for themselves by the government’s lack of consultation so far.

“There is still no clear picture of the cost of this project and given that everything else has gone up, the government needs to clarify this issue,” he told AAP.

“The work will start in December and it is a very simple conversation. (Developer) ACEREZ needs to make sure it properly consults with landowners, which means literally going from property to property and informing them of the impacts.”