Ausgrid CEO Marc England said the historic agreement will drive a fairer and lower cost transition, while minimising the impact on local communities.
“Ausgrid is proud to be getting on with the job of delivering the largest extension to our network in a generation, enabling more renewables for the communities our people serve,” he said.
“By enhancing our existing medium-voltage network, we are enabling a faster and cheaper integration of renewables into the grid, minimising the impact on communities.
“The proposed upgrades will significantly boost capacity, enabling at least 1-giggawatt of renewable energy to be delivered to our customers.
“This REZ will bring significant economic benefits to the region, including jobs, opportunities for local businesses and potential new industries.
“It is work vital to meeting the State’s current and future energy needs, and we are proud to see our people bringing the NSW Government’s vision to life.
“The REZ is an example of the tremendous opportunity to drive a lower-cost transition that currently sits within existing electricity distributors.”
The REZ will group power generation from new renewables into locations where it can be efficiently stored and transmitted across NSW.
The Hunter-Central Coast REZ is one of five zones identified by the NSW Government which will deliver a reliable electricity supply to meet the growing demand of power from our regions and cities.
Ausgrid’s Group Executive Transmission Development and Growth, Kelly Wood, said Ausgrid is committed to working with EnergyCo and landholders to finalise details of the design, with the aim of minimising impacts and maximising benefits.
“We are proud to see our people bringing this project to life, supporting the communities they and their families live in.”
Ausgrid remains dedicated to working with EnergyCo, local councils, landowners and businesses to ensure we deliver social value to the communities that will host the infrastructure required.
The Hunter-Central Coast REZ is anticipated to be commissioned in 2028.
Find out more about the Hunter-Central Coast REZ.