Discover the South-West Renewable Energy Zone

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Discover the South-West Renewable Energy Zone by exploring the frequently asked questions below.

What is a Renewable Energy Zone (REZ)?

The NSW Government is developing five Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) across the state to harness the best wind and solar resources and deliver reliable, affordable renewable energy to homes and businesses.

The five REZs are:

  • Central -West Orana
  • New England
  • Hunter -Central Coast
  • Illawarra
  • South West

EnergyCo is also upgrading the electricity grid to connect the REZs and keep the lights on, while the private sector is developing renewable energy projects such as wind, solar and battery storage.

What type of projects are being built and where are they located?

The South-West REZ stretches some 375kms from Dinawan Substation (near Jerilderie) in the east to the Buronga Substation (near Buronga/Mildura) in the west and will include:

  • Two new transmission lines (Project Energy Connect and Victoria NSW Interconnector West) will carry the electrical power generated from the renewable energy projects over long distances with minimal energy loss.
  • Four renewable energy electrical power generating projects using wind, solar and battery storage.

Map of the South West Renewable Energy Zone in south-west New South Wales near the Victoria border. The map shows the locations of four renewable energy projects: Bullawah Wind Farm (262.3 MW) north of Hay, Pottinger Energy Park (831.2 MW) west of Hay, Yanco Delta Wind Farm (1,460 MW) south-east of Hay, and Dinawan Energy Hub (1,007 MW) north-west of Deniliquin. A red line indicates the Project EnergyConnect transmission line (under construction), and a pink line indicates the Victoria-NSW Interconnector West (in planning). Orange dots mark approximate project locations, and a dashed orange boundary outlines the South West Renewable Energy Zone. Nearby towns labelled include Balranald, Hay, Deniliquin, Jerilderie and Griffith. An inset map shows the project area within New South Wales.

If you're keen to discover other projects happening across the state, see the EnergyCo interactive map.

Why has our region been chosen as a REZ?

The NSW Government chose the South-West region for a renewable energy zone because it:

  • Has an abundance of high-quality wind and solar resources that can generate large amounts of electricity reliably.
  • Is close to existing and planned high-voltage electricity lines, reducing the cost of connecting projects to the electricity grid.
  • Has suitable land and development conditions that can accommodate large-scale wind, solar, battery and transmission projects.
  • Offers the ability to coordinate multiple projects in one area, which reduces the need for separate transmission corridors and lowers overall impacts and costs for consumers.

What are the Transmission Line Projects in the REZ?

Transgrid is responsible for planning, delivering and operating the transmission lines and infrastructure that will connect renewable energy generation and storage projects within the South-West REZ.

The two major transmission line projects are:

Project EnergyConnect - a 900-kilometre transmission project that links the electricity networks of New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia for the first time. Within the South-West REZ, the project includes a 375-kilometre 330 kV transmission line between Buronga Substation near Buronga and the new Dinawan Substation near Jerilderie, as well as a 165-kilometre 500 kV transmission line between the Dinawan Substation and Wagga Wagga in NSW.

Victoria NSW Interconnector West (VNI West) - is a proposed new 500 kV double circuit transmission line connecting the high voltage electricity grids at the Dinawan substation north of Jerilderie in NSW to new substations proposed near Kerang and Bulgana in Victoria.

This critical infrastructure will play a key role in improving energy reliability, security and affordability for consumers.

What are the renewable energy generation and storage projects in the South-West REZ?

Four renewable energy and storage projects have been granted access rights in the South-West Renewable REZ through a competitive tender process, becoming the first projects authorised to connect to the REZ's access rights network. Together, these projects will deliver 3.56 gigawatts (GW) of new renewable energy, helping to power homes and businesses across NSW while supporting the state's transition to a cleaner and more reliable energy system.

The projects currently granted access rights are:

In addition to delivering clean energy generation, these projects will contribute millions of dollars toward local community and employment initiatives through the Community and Employment Benefit Program and Community Benefit Sharing Framework through voluntary planning agreements with Councils located within the South-West REZ zone.

Who is Energyco?

EnergyCo (Energy Corporation of NSW) is the NSW Government agency responsible for planning and coordinating the delivery of REZs and other major energy infrastructure projects across the state. Its role is to ensure new transmission, renewable energy and storage projects are developed in a coordinated way to maintain a reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity system as coal-fired power stations retire.

For the South-West REZ, EnergyCo works with communities, landowners, industry and government to plan and deliver the transmission infrastructure needed to connect renewable energy projects, such as wind, solar and battery storage, to the electricity grid. EnergyCo also helps ensure local communities benefit from investment, jobs and community funding associated with the REZ.

Visit the EnergyCo website to learn more about its delivery of NSW’s first five renewable energy zones and other priority electricity infrastructure projects.

How does a project get access rights?

Developers cannot connect directly to the South-West REZ access rights network. Instead, they must participate in a competitive access rights tender process administered by AusEnergy Services on behalf of EnergyCo. Through this process, developers submit proposals for renewable energy and storage projects, which are assessed against criteria including network capacity, project maturity, technical capability, and the ability to deliver benefits for the NSW electricity system and local communities.

Will there be more projects in the South-West REZ?

The initial allocation process for the South-West REZ has now been completed, with the four projects awarded access rights. Future opportunities to apply for access rights will depend on the availability of network capacity and any subsequent allocation processes established under the South West REZ Access Scheme.

Discover the South-West Renewable Energy Zone by exploring the frequently asked questions below.

What is a Renewable Energy Zone (REZ)?

The NSW Government is developing five Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) across the state to harness the best wind and solar resources and deliver reliable, affordable renewable energy to homes and businesses.

The five REZs are:

  • Central -West Orana
  • New England
  • Hunter -Central Coast
  • Illawarra
  • South West

EnergyCo is also upgrading the electricity grid to connect the REZs and keep the lights on, while the private sector is developing renewable energy projects such as wind, solar and battery storage.

What type of projects are being built and where are they located?

The South-West REZ stretches some 375kms from Dinawan Substation (near Jerilderie) in the east to the Buronga Substation (near Buronga/Mildura) in the west and will include:

  • Two new transmission lines (Project Energy Connect and Victoria NSW Interconnector West) will carry the electrical power generated from the renewable energy projects over long distances with minimal energy loss.
  • Four renewable energy electrical power generating projects using wind, solar and battery storage.

Map of the South West Renewable Energy Zone in south-west New South Wales near the Victoria border. The map shows the locations of four renewable energy projects: Bullawah Wind Farm (262.3 MW) north of Hay, Pottinger Energy Park (831.2 MW) west of Hay, Yanco Delta Wind Farm (1,460 MW) south-east of Hay, and Dinawan Energy Hub (1,007 MW) north-west of Deniliquin. A red line indicates the Project EnergyConnect transmission line (under construction), and a pink line indicates the Victoria-NSW Interconnector West (in planning). Orange dots mark approximate project locations, and a dashed orange boundary outlines the South West Renewable Energy Zone. Nearby towns labelled include Balranald, Hay, Deniliquin, Jerilderie and Griffith. An inset map shows the project area within New South Wales.

If you're keen to discover other projects happening across the state, see the EnergyCo interactive map.

Why has our region been chosen as a REZ?

The NSW Government chose the South-West region for a renewable energy zone because it:

  • Has an abundance of high-quality wind and solar resources that can generate large amounts of electricity reliably.
  • Is close to existing and planned high-voltage electricity lines, reducing the cost of connecting projects to the electricity grid.
  • Has suitable land and development conditions that can accommodate large-scale wind, solar, battery and transmission projects.
  • Offers the ability to coordinate multiple projects in one area, which reduces the need for separate transmission corridors and lowers overall impacts and costs for consumers.

What are the Transmission Line Projects in the REZ?

Transgrid is responsible for planning, delivering and operating the transmission lines and infrastructure that will connect renewable energy generation and storage projects within the South-West REZ.

The two major transmission line projects are:

Project EnergyConnect - a 900-kilometre transmission project that links the electricity networks of New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia for the first time. Within the South-West REZ, the project includes a 375-kilometre 330 kV transmission line between Buronga Substation near Buronga and the new Dinawan Substation near Jerilderie, as well as a 165-kilometre 500 kV transmission line between the Dinawan Substation and Wagga Wagga in NSW.

Victoria NSW Interconnector West (VNI West) - is a proposed new 500 kV double circuit transmission line connecting the high voltage electricity grids at the Dinawan substation north of Jerilderie in NSW to new substations proposed near Kerang and Bulgana in Victoria.

This critical infrastructure will play a key role in improving energy reliability, security and affordability for consumers.

What are the renewable energy generation and storage projects in the South-West REZ?

Four renewable energy and storage projects have been granted access rights in the South-West Renewable REZ through a competitive tender process, becoming the first projects authorised to connect to the REZ's access rights network. Together, these projects will deliver 3.56 gigawatts (GW) of new renewable energy, helping to power homes and businesses across NSW while supporting the state's transition to a cleaner and more reliable energy system.

The projects currently granted access rights are:

In addition to delivering clean energy generation, these projects will contribute millions of dollars toward local community and employment initiatives through the Community and Employment Benefit Program and Community Benefit Sharing Framework through voluntary planning agreements with Councils located within the South-West REZ zone.

Who is Energyco?

EnergyCo (Energy Corporation of NSW) is the NSW Government agency responsible for planning and coordinating the delivery of REZs and other major energy infrastructure projects across the state. Its role is to ensure new transmission, renewable energy and storage projects are developed in a coordinated way to maintain a reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity system as coal-fired power stations retire.

For the South-West REZ, EnergyCo works with communities, landowners, industry and government to plan and deliver the transmission infrastructure needed to connect renewable energy projects, such as wind, solar and battery storage, to the electricity grid. EnergyCo also helps ensure local communities benefit from investment, jobs and community funding associated with the REZ.

Visit the EnergyCo website to learn more about its delivery of NSW’s first five renewable energy zones and other priority electricity infrastructure projects.

How does a project get access rights?

Developers cannot connect directly to the South-West REZ access rights network. Instead, they must participate in a competitive access rights tender process administered by AusEnergy Services on behalf of EnergyCo. Through this process, developers submit proposals for renewable energy and storage projects, which are assessed against criteria including network capacity, project maturity, technical capability, and the ability to deliver benefits for the NSW electricity system and local communities.

Will there be more projects in the South-West REZ?

The initial allocation process for the South-West REZ has now been completed, with the four projects awarded access rights. Future opportunities to apply for access rights will depend on the availability of network capacity and any subsequent allocation processes established under the South West REZ Access Scheme.

Page last updated: 12 Aug 2026, 09:55 AM