New South Wales to speed up development of renewables transmission worth $1.9b

It aims to address connection issues and save up to $1.73b.

Reuters reports that New South Wales, Australia’s most populous state, is looking to speed up the development of $1.9b worth of transmission capacity for wind and solar power. NSW has $19.46b (A$27b) of solar and wind projects with 20GW planned ahead.

“For every 20 projects looking to connect only one can. So we’re going to change that,” New South Wales energy minister Don Harwin said.

NSW is working with transmission operator Transgrid to speed up planning and feasibility work on four projects needed between 2022 and 2024 to boost connections with its neighbouring states Queensland, Victoria, and South Australia.

The state estimates that up to $1.73b (A$2.4b) can be saved from improved grid connections that give power retailers better access to regions where there is surplus power from wind and solar. “Australia needs this investment to reflect our changing electricity market,” Harwin told Reuters.

Read the full report here.