Australia’s renewable energy transformation has received another major boost, with the federal government announcing 20 successful projects under the Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS), expected to deliver 6.6 gigawatts (GW) of new renewable generation capacity by the end of the decade.
The projects, spanning solar, wind and large-scale battery developments across the National Electricity Market (NEM), will generate enough clean power for more than three million households by 2030.
Combined, they represent over $17 billion in local investment, including around $1 billion in Australian steel, and will create over 12,000 construction jobs and 1,000 ongoing maintenance roles across the country.
CIS Tender 4 proved highly competitive, attracting 84 bids representing 25.6 GW — more than four times the government’s 6 GW target.
The successful projects include 12 large-scale batteries with a combined storage capacity of 3.5 GW / 11.4 GWh, capable of supporting the peak load of more than 2.6 million homes for four hours.
Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen said the results reflected Australia’s growing appeal to renewable investors and its accelerating shift toward a cleaner, more reliable energy system.
“The Capacity Investment Scheme continues to be popular and competitive, delivering cheaper, cleaner and more reliable energy for all Australians for years to come,” Minister Bowen said.
“We are rebuilding Australia’s energy grid to make it modern, reliable and fair and attracting global interest in our wind and solar.
“The scheme is not only delivering clean power, but also creating thousands of high-quality jobs, often in remote and rural areas, and opportunities to train the next generation of engineers, electricians and tradespeople who will build our energy future.”
Almost half of the total capacity from Tender 4 will come from wind developments, including Tasmania’s first CIS project, the Bell Bay Wind Farm by Equis.
Other major wind projects include the 634 MW Liverpool Range Wind Stage 1 in New South Wales, AGL’s 600 MW Hexham Wind Farm in Victoria, and the 399 MW Gawara Baya Wind and Battery project in Queensland.
Solar and hybrid solar-battery facilities also form a key component of the new capacity.
Projects such as EDPR’s 450 MW Merino Solar Farm in New South Wales, TotalEnergies’ 363 MW Middlebrook Solar Farm, and Edify Energy’s suite of Queensland and Victorian projects highlight the scale of Australia’s solar expansion.
Beyond generation, the CIS program is fostering community and First Nations participation in the energy transition.
The 20 successful projects have collectively committed an estimated $291 million in shared community benefits and $348 million in First Nations benefits — together exceeding $600 million in targeted local support.
Community commitments include funding for regional amenities such as libraries, pools, parks and gardens, as well as local energy rebates, biodiversity and revegetation initiatives, and partnerships with local TAFEs and schools.
Three projects feature First Nations revenue sharing agreements, while others incorporate subcontracting, training and workforce development opportunities.
The new capacity builds on earlier CIS rounds, which have already secured 6 GW of clean energy nationally.
Developers will soon have more chances to participate, with CIS Tender 7 for 5 GW of new NEM generation capacity opening for registrations and bids on 14 October.
A subsequent round targeting dispatchable capacity is scheduled for late November.
Selected CIS Tender 4 Projects:
- Bell Bay Wind Farm (Equis) – 224 MW, Tasmania
- Bendemeer Energy Hub (Athena Energy Australia) – 252 MW Solar + Battery
- Carmody’s Hill Wind Farm (Aula Energy) – 247 MW, South Australia
- Dinawan Wind Farm Stage 1 (Spark Renewables) – 357 MW, New South Wales
- Hexham Wind Farm (AGL) – 600 MW, Victoria
- Merino Solar Farm (EDPR) – 450 MW Solar + Battery, New South Wales
- Gawara Baya (Windlab) – 399 MW Wind + Battery, Queensland
- Tallawang Solar Hybrid (Potentia Energy) – 500 MW Solar + Battery, New South Wales
- Willogoleche 2 Wind Farm (ENGIE & Foresight) – 108 MW, South Australia
With record participation and billions in local investment, the CIS is positioning Australia for a cleaner, more resilient, and community-driven energy future.
