Frequently asked questions

The New England REZ was formally declared by the Minister for Energy under section 19(1) of the Electricity Infrastructure Investment Act 2020 (the Act) and published in the NSW Gazette on 17 December 2021. View the Renewable Energy Zone (New England) Declaration Order here.

The declaration was the first step in formalising the REZ under the Act and establishes EnergyCo as the Infrastructure Planner responsible for coordinating its development. It also set out the intended network capacity (size), geographical area (location) and infrastructure that will make up the REZ, and enables and sets the scope of key legislative functions under the Act, including access schemes and REZ network solutions (referred to in the Act as 'REZ network infrastructure projects'). As Infrastructure Planner, EnergyCo will make decisions such as assessing and recommending REZ network infrastructure projects.

The declaration followed an assessment of feedback received during the draft declaration exhibition period from 15 October to 12 November 2021. Minor adjustments to the geographical area were made which took both community and proponent feedback into account. These amendments improved the delineation between areas captured within the REZ subject to potential future development, and adjacent areas of National Park and World Heritage significance.

A stylised map of the specified geographical area of the REZ is included for reference and accessibility purposes only here. This stylised map does not form part of the declaration. The stylised map includes the existing 132 kV and 330 kV transmission infrastructure near and in the REZ as a geographical reference. You can download the GIS file of the New England REZ geographical area boundary here.

Note: The Minister in future may amend the declaration to expand the specified geographical area of the REZ, increase the intended network capacity, specify additional generation, storage and network infrastructure, provide further details and specifications, or correct a minor error.

A range of factors were considered in planning and identification of the five REZs, including:

• potential land uses impacts, including on agricultural land,
• environmental and social values, such as unique and sensitive biodiversity and cultural values,
• population and housing density,
• the location and availability of high-quality wind and solar resources, and
• distance to existing high voltage transmission lines.

The New England REZ has an intended network capacity of up to 8 gigawatts, aligning with the Australian Energy Market Operator’s (AEMO's) 2020 Integrated System Plan (ISP).

We received 80 registrations of interest for the New England REZ, representing 34 gigawatts of new energy generation and storage projects, during 2021. This interest significantly exceeds the amount of energy required to deliver the REZ. It will therefore help to ensure a competitive tender process and drive improved outcomes for the community.

For more information, visit Renewable energy generation projects.

EnergyCo is the Infrastructure Planner for the New England REZ and is responsible for the planning and development of transmission infrastructure required for the REZ. This includes all aspects of the environmental planning and approvals process, as well as the acquisition of any private land and easements needed for the project.

The delivery and operation of the network will be managed by the appointed Network Operator. EnergyCo will lead a competitive process to appoint the Network Operator which will design, build, finance, operate and maintain the new transmission infrastructure in the REZ. The successful Network Operator will then work with EnergyCo on the rollout of the project.

Given the substantial complexities involved in transmission infrastructure planning, there are specific national, state, and regional planning processes enacted that guide, revise and modify projects towards a final design.

Typically, such projects move from a ‘preliminary’ study corridor to a ‘revised’ corridor, and then to a ‘reference design’ corridor which forms the basis of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that is lodged with the relevant approving authority.

EnergyCo will be the proponent of the EIS for the REZ network infrastructure.

The EIS is expected to be displayed for public exhibition in 2024. All submissions received as part of the exhibition will be reviewed, and a response will be made publicly available in a Submissions Report.

While the planning approval processes and construction of the generation projects will be the responsibility of the developers, EnergyCo will have a critical role in coordination to ensure the impacts and opportunities for the community are considered as a whole.

The planning of the REZ Network Infrastructure is currently in the preliminary assessment phase, incorporating the conduct of studies and option analysis considerations. At a high level, the scope of the New England REZ infrastructure includes:

• new transmission lines connecting Bayswater (in the Upper Hunter) to the REZ,
• new energy hubs,
• new transmission lines within the REZ, and
• connection to new generation projects.

Energy hubs are a modern type of substation that act as a connection point between renewable energy projects and the broader transmission network. Energy hubs collect electricity from solar, wind and storage projects and transfer it to the network so it can be distributed to the homes, businesses and essential services that need it. More information is available in our energy hub fact sheet.

High voltage transmission lines will transfer renewable energy from the New England REZ to electricity consumers, with the ‘backbone’ of the new network expected to be rated up to 500 kilovolts (kV).

The towers will be up to 70 metres high and are generally spaced 400 to 600 metres apart. The transmission lines have a minimum clearance of 7.5 metres off the ground to allow farming and other activities to take place safely underneath.

These transmission lines will be located within easements 70 to 80 metres wide and may be co-located within a single easement or be physically separated. Easements will be wider where transmission lines are co-located.

EnergyCo is committed to delivering a safe, reliable and efficient transmission network for the REZ. We understand there is concern in the community about potential health impacts from electric and magnetic fields (EMFs) when living and working near transmission lines.

EMFs are found everywhere, including in the natural environment, and are produced wherever electricity or electrical equipment is used. According to health authorities, including the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (APRANSA), EMFs from electrical transmission lines are not considered a risk to human health.

A detailed assessment of EMFs from the REZ transmission project will be carried out as part of the project’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

This assessment will ensure EMFs from transmission infrastructure, including energy hubs and transmission lines, are within the required guidelines. For more information, you can view our EMF fact sheet.

EnergyCo carried out detailed and extensive planning processes, including consideration of multiple route design options, to develop a preliminary study corridor for the REZ which was announced in June 2023.

Community and landowner feedback and information gathered from field investigations informed a revised study corridor in March 2024. The revised study corridor minimised overall impacts on local landowners and the environment and increases the use of public land. 

Since then, we have continued to carry out investigations and consider feedback to develop a preferred study corridor which is outlined the project’s scoping report. We will continue to consult with landowners, the broader community and industry to further refine the design.

We welcome feedback from landowners and local communities on the preferred study corridor. We will continue to engage with potential hosts in or near the study corridor so their feedback can be considered in our planning process.

There will continue to be formal opportunities for the community to have their say via one-on-one meetings, online engagement, community drop-in sessions, community briefings, emails and phone calls. This feedback will be considered in the design and development of the project.

We understand that agricultural activities are essential to our State as well as the livelihood of communities in the New England region and will aim to minimise impacts to these activities wherever possible.

The final transmission alignment will be presented in the Environmental Impact Statement which is planned to be displayed for public exhibition in 2025.

During the planning phase, we will work with landowners to understand farming and business operations and other possible property impacts or concerns. These in turn will inform the design scope of the infrastructure.

Examples could include avoiding structures and high value agricultural land, minimising fragmentation of blocks, limiting construction access, and respecting landscape.

During construction, EnergyCo will require workers to liaise closely with landowners in accordance with pre-agreed terms for access to properties. Workers will be expected to strictly adhere to rules protecting livestock, securing gates and biosecurity.

Easement acquisition is a common practice in Australia to allow for the construction and operation of transmission lines as well as various other utilities.

When acquiring an easement, EnergyCo will seek to enter into an agreement with the landowner which will set out all the rights and obligations for both parties in relation to the ongoing use and management of the land, including payment of compensation to the landowner for granting the easement, and any other required interests.

Property acquisition in NSW is governed by the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991 (the Act). The Act provides the procedures a government agency must follow to acquire land from a landowner, as well as the principles for determining compensation.

You can read our property and easement acquisition fact sheet for further details on how EnergyCo will acquire easement rights for the REZ transmission project.

EnergyCo understands that agricultural activities are essential to our nation as well as the livelihood of communities in the New England region. We will therefore work closely with landowners as we design the REZ to understand current and future land uses and help minimise interference with agricultural activities.

While there are some restrictions within easements, farmers can still carry out regular activities like growing crops and grazing livestock. Once commissioned, transmission lines do not generally have a significant effect on farming operations. 

Further details are available in our fact sheet about living and working near transmission easements.

Under the Strategic Benefits Payment Scheme (SBP), private landowners hosting new high voltage transmission projects critical to the energy transformation and future of the electricity grid will be paid a set rate of $200,000 per kilometre of transmission hosted (in real 2022 dollars), paid out in annual instalments over 20 years.

Payments made under the SBP scheme will be in addition to any compensation paid under the Act to applicable private landowners for transmission easements on their land once the project is energised (ie operational).

The EnergyCo New England REZ Project team welcomes your feedback at any time. You can:

• Call us on 1800 061 114
• Email us at [email protected]
• Come along to any of the opportunities being held in REZ communities which will be widely advertised in advance.

Also known as transfer capacity, or the maximum amount of energy can be exported from the REZ into the external network at any given time. 

This refers to how much solar, wind or battery can connect to the REZ network. It is typically higher than network capacity. 

An assessment to check whether there is more generation capacity for generators to connect to a REZ without overloading it. 

Generation and storage projects that wish to connect to the New England REZ network infrastructure will need to secure an access right. Access right holders will be charged a yearly access fee that includes components to fund community benefit and employment programs. Access fees are set by the Consumer Trustee. Generators would start paying access fees once their projects start the commissioning process.

EnergyCo intends to publish an Access Scheme consultation paper in Q2 2025.  This paper will outline the possible range or limit for generation capacity that could connect to the Access Rights Network. This paper will be published on EnergyCo’s website seeking responses from the public. A webinar will also be run during the consultation period.

Following the consultation process, EnergyCo will make a recommendation to the Minister to declare an Access Scheme which will include information on the processes for determining the maximum generation capacity that can connect to the Access Rights Network.  

Before making a final declaration, the Minister will publish a draft declaration (available on the EnergyCo’s website and the NSW Gazette) for at least 28 days to seek and consider submissions from the public (including representatives of NSW electricity consumers, local regional communities, and First Nations people) on the draft declaration. This is likely to occur in the first half of 2026.

Finally, there are public guidelines providing information on how the Minister will exercise the function of declaring access schemes under the Electricity Infrastructure Investment Act 2020. Available here: https://www.energy.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-08/guidelines-for-access-scheme-declarations-220308.pdf

The REZ will initially unlock 2.4 GW in stage 1 and up to 8 GW by 2034. 

EnergyCo is delivering the New England Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) network infrastructure project to provide a clean, affordable and reliable power supply for energy consumers across NSW.  

Delivery of the New England REZ involves: 

• Building renewable energy projects, such as solar farms, wind farms and battery energy storage systems 
• Building transmission lines and energy hubs to connect these projects to electricity consumers. 

Both require significant volumes of oversize and over-mass (OSOM) equipment to be delivered to the Port of Newcastle and transported by road along designated routes to the New England REZ. 

The Port to REZ Program is essential for our transition to renewable energy. The Program will address the transport challenges of delivering OSOM renewable energy components, such as wind turbines, transformers, and other large pieces of electrical equipment, between the Port of Newcastle and key points within the New England REZ. Delivery of these components is essential to build renewable generation projects as well as the transmission infrastructure needed to connect them to the electricity network. 

EnergyCo is working with Transport for NSW to determine the most suitable, low-impact OSOM route to deliver energy components from the Port of Newcastle to the New England REZ. 

Upgrades to road intersections and pinch-points may be required to allow large components to be moved safely across the route to renewable energy projects.  

Coordinating road upgrades to renewable energy zones will: 

• Enable delivery of large components essential to construct and operate renewable energy projects in the REZ 
• Be carried out in a well-planned and holistic manner to optimise efficiency and coordination  
• Improve pinch points and intersections along the Port to REZ route 

Coordinating OSOM deliveries will: 

• Reduce the impact on road users and communities 
• Improve safety 

Building renewable energy projects and new transmission infrastructure require the movement of large components, which we refer to as oversize and over-mass. These tend to be: 

• Very long – such as wind turbine blades, which we need to ensure can get through intersections, around corners, and past utility poles and buildings 
• Very tall – such as the base sections of wind turbine towers, which we need to ensure can get under bridges and overhead powerlines 
• Very heavy – such as transformers, which we need to ensure can safely traverse bridges and culverts. 

Transportation of large renewable energy components will increase progressively along the route as construction begins in a REZ. 

Construction of major solar, wind and storage projects with planned connections to the New England REZ network infrastructure project will start once projects are approved.  

There are also several renewable energy projects that are planned to be delivered ahead of the New England REZ, meaning OSOM movements for those projects would start earlier. At this stage, we expect those to start in late 2026. 

We are working closely with renewable energy project developers to coordinate the volume and frequency of OSOM vehicle movements during construction. We will keep the community updated as planning progresses and further details are finalised. 

Coordinating the timing and frequency of OSOM deliveries is critical to minimising disruption for road users and communities. 

We are supporting Transport for NSW on an operational strategy which explains how this work will be coordinated and traffic impacts managed. This will consider local and regional road use. The strategy is being developed by Transport for NSW and will be shared with the community once the route is confirmed. 

Some strategies to minimise impacts on road users include building pullover bays, coordinating with schools and transport companies to understand local bus routes and delivering OSOM components at night where possible. 

Safety is an important consideration as we design the route. We are working closely with Transport for NSW and local councils to understand local road use and constraints in pinch point areas to minimise impacts on the road network. 

Some of the ways OSOM vehicle movement safety is managed includes: 

• Scheduling OSOM vehicle movements to take place outside of peak traffic periods 
• Use of escort vehicles (driven by accredited escort drivers) or NSW Police to ensure deliveries are carried out safely, depending on size and mass of the load 
• Speed restrictions for OSOM vehicles 
• Pulling over to allow other vehicles to pass safely at intervals 
• Installing signage. 

OSOM vehicle permits are managed by Transport for NSW and the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR). Transport for NSW and NHVR will notify communities and road users about OSOM vehicle movements along the Port to New England REZ route, including expected delivery volumes and times. 

There are a number of towns along the road network between Muswellbrook and the New England REZ. EnergyCo and Transport for NSW are carrying out investigations to determine the most suitable, low-impact freight route to accommodate OSOM vehicles. 

EnergyCo has been working closely with local councils to understand local road use and constraints in key areas around town centres to inform OSOM route design options. The route design will consider options that minimise traffic impacts to Muswellbrook, Tamworth, Uralla, Walcha and Armidale. 

Yes. Since early 2024, EnergyCo and Transport for NSW have been investigating the most suitable, low-impact OSOM route to unlock access from Muswellbrook to the New England REZ. 

The route will include sections of the New England Highway and Oxley Highway, as well as some local roads. 

Individual renewable energy project developers will plan and manage OSOM vehicle movements for their respective projects, including upgrading local roads and connections between the OSOM route and their project sites. The community will be invited to provide feedback as part of this process. 

Site investigations as part of the OSOM route planning will continue throughout 2025 and 2026. Subject to detailed design, planning and approvals, road upgrades are expected to start in 2026. 

Local communities and stakeholders will be notified ahead of work starting, including notification of expected work hours and temporary traffic changes, where applicable. We will make every effort to minimise impacts and disruption to landowners, local communities and motorists during this work.