The New South Wales government has launched the biggest renewable energy tender in the state’s history, aiming to secure enough new clean generation to power roughly one-third of homes across the state.
Tender 8 will seek 2.5 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity, making it the single largest generation tender delivered under the NSW Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap.
Run by the independent Consumer Trustee, AusEnergy Service Limited (ASL), the initiative aims to propel NSW to 90 per cent of its 12-gigawatt renewable energy target by 2030.
Simultaneously, ASL has opened Tender 9, which targets up to 12 gigawatt-hours of long-duration storage.
With NSW already on track to beat its original 2030 and 2034 storage targets, the state government is looking to unlock 50 per cent more capacity beyond those benchmarks to build a sturdier pipeline of projects and safeguard grid reliability.
Eligible storage technologies will include large-scale batteries and pumped hydro developments.
Crucially, Tender 8 will introduce a new Hybrid Generation agreement, allowing investors to combine wind or solar generation with battery storage within a single project.
Minister for Climate Change and Energy Penny Sharpe said: “This is the largest renewable generation tender in NSW history, and it shows just how serious we are about delivering cheaper and more reliable power for households and businesses.
“Tender 8 alone will deliver enough energy to power about one-third of homes in NSW, marking a major step forward in our plan to future‑proof NSW’s electricity system.
“This is about keeping the lights on when ageing coal-fired power stations retire and doing it in a way that puts downward pressure on electricity bills for NSW families.”
Combined, the tenders will deliver enough generation capacity to power 1.26 million homes, ensuring electricity remains available for households and heavy industry during peak demand or when weather conditions limit renewable generation.
Successful projects for both tenders are expected to be finalised by late 2026.