ESN Premium speaks with Chloe Hicks of EnergyCo about New South Wales’ Renewable Energy Zones (REZ) and its hopes for energy storage.

The Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) in New South Wales, Australia, has increased in size, now allowing 7.7GW of renewable energy generation and energy storage capacity to connect to it.

Pacific Green Technologies has applied for approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act, for its 1GW/2.5GWh Portland BESS in Victoria, Australia.

Bids for the South West Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) Access Rights in New South Wales (NSW), Australia have exceeded the targeted capacity by four times, while a 100MW solar-plus-storage project has been approved in the same state.

Construction has started at the 600MW/1,600MWh Melbourne Renewable Energy Hub (MREH), one of the largest energy storage projects in Victoria, Australia.

Australian utility Origin Energy has started constructing its 300MW/650MW Mortlake battery energy storage system (BESS) in Victoria, Australia.

Akaysha Energy has closed financing for a battery storage project in New South Wales, Australia that is planned to be in excess of 1,660MWh capacity.

The Queensland government confirmed yesterday (18 June) that Caloundra, Australia, will house a Local Renewable Energy Zone (LREZ), with plans to triple rooftop solar PV generation.

Fluence has been issued the required Notice to Proceed on a battery storage project in Australia, which will provide inertia services via the system’s advanced inverter equipment.

Equis Australia and the State Electricity Commission have secured AU$400 million in financing for their Melbourne Renewable Energy Hub (MREH) battery storage project.