Introduction
NSW’s ageing coal-fired power stations are reaching the end of their life. Some are closing faster than expected, with most due to shut in the next ten years.The NSW Government has a strategy to meet electricity demand with renewable energy, aiming to provide consumers with cleaner, more affordable, and reliable electricity.
About the Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone
The Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone (HCC REZ) was declared by the Minister of Energy in 2022.Following a competitive tender process, Ausgrid was announced in December 2024 as the preferred network operator to deliver critical upgrades to the electricity network to support the HCC REZ.
The HCC REZ intends to deliver an additional 1 gigawatt (GW) of network capacity.
What work is proposed?
The HCC REZ infrastructure will be built predominantly on corridors of land known as easements. Ausgrid will use these existing corridors where possible; however, in some sections, expansion or procurement of new easements may be necessary.
Proposed works include:
- Upgrading approximately 85km of existing sub-transmission lines.
- Constructing two new energy hubs (substations).
- Upgrading two existing energy hubs (substations).
- Installing 18km new underground fibre optic communications cable.
- Upgrading secondary systems throughout the Hunter to facilitate seamless integration with the new infrastructure.
