The Australian Government has released the first-ever National Renewable Energy Priority List (Priority List).
The inaugural Priority List identifies 56 priority projects nationally consisting of 24 transmission, and 32 generation and storage projects. Woolnorth’s Repowering Project for Bluff Point and Studland Bay has been placed on this list under the Generation and Storage Projects section.
If approved through Commonwealth, state and territory regulatory planning and environment processes, these projects could deliver an additional 16 GW of generation and approximately 6 GW of storage capacity across the nation. Nationally, these generation projects can provide the annual electricity needs for over 9 million homes. The storage projects could meet peak energy demand for over 5 million homes for up to 4 hours.
The Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (the department) has collaborated with states and territories through the Energy and Climate Change Ministerial (ECMC) Council to create the National Renewable Energy Priority List (Priority List).
ECMC has developed the eligibility and prioritisation criteria for projects to be incorporated on the Priority List. Criteria includes projects being greater than 30MW, pre-construction, on-grid, scheduled for completion by 31 December 2031, and key transmission projects that support the integration of renewables into the grid. The Priority List combines a data-driven model with qualitative input to identify jurisdictional priority transmission, generation and storage projects.
The Priority List adopts a ‘faster to yes, faster to no’ approach. Identified projects will receive additional support and facilitation through regulatory and environmental processes. They will still have the same scrutiny applied as any other project and continue to be required to meet all statutory requirements.
Project support will be developed on a case-by-case basis according to the needs of individual identified projects. This will include both support from the Commonwealth Environment Regulator, state and territory regulators and complementary programs. This support builds on commitments already agreed upon in the respective Renewable Energy Transformation Agreements.
For more information refer to National Priority List of Renewable Energy Projects https://www.dcceew.gov.au/energy/renewable/priority-list,