Ausgrid welcomes Hunter Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone declaration

9 December 2022

Ausgrid welcomes the NSW Government’s declaration of the Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone (REZ)

Our extensive transmission and distribution infrastructure, highly skilled experts who are 'on the ground' in the catchment area, as well as our world-class control room, means we are uniquely positioned to help make this REZ a success.

Managed by NSW EnergyCo on behalf of the NSW Government, REZs are the equivalent of modern-day power stations, combining:

• new renewable energy infrastructure, including generators (such as solar and wind farms);
• storage (such as batteries and pumped hydro); and
• high-voltage transmission infrastructure

to produce cheap, clean and reliable electricity that can be efficiently stored and transmitted across the National Electricity Market (NEM).

The Hunter-Central Coast REZ covers Muswellbrook, Cessnock, Singleton, Maitland, Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, within the Ausgrid network.

EnergyCo will take on the role of infrastructure planner for the renewable energy infrastructure, working with our planning team, in a similar way to our existing joint planning framework with Transgrid, to ensure safe, integrated and efficient connection to the grid.

Supporting the Hunter Central Coast REZ is another example of Ausgrid's commitment to delivering our vision of giving our customers the power in a resilient, affordable, net zero future.