Australia's Capacity Investment Program Has Awarded 20 Projects

 

Australia's Capacity Investment Program has awarded 20 projects, adding 6.6 GW of renewable energy and energy storage capacity by 2030.

 

The Australian government is significantly boosting renewable energy development through its Capacity Investment Program. Twenty projects have been awarded, projecting an additional 6.6 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, enough to meet the electricity needs of over 3 million households. The fourth round of the National Electricity Market (NEM) received 84 bids totaling 25.6 GW, more than four times the target capacity of 6 GW, highlighting strong investor interest in Australia's clean energy transition.

 

Twelve of the awarded projects include large-scale battery energy storage systems, totaling 3.5 GW and 11.4 GW of storage capacity, capable of supporting the peak electricity needs of 2.6 million households for four hours. Nearly half of the installed capacity comes from wind power projects, including the Bell Bay Wind Farm, Tasmania's first Capacity Investment Program project, reflecting continued growth in investment in Australia's wind power sector. The project will generate approximately AU$291 million in community-shared benefits and AU$348 million in Aboriginal equity benefits, covering areas such as regional libraries, swimming pools, parks, and school construction, as well as energy subsidies and biodiversity initiatives.

 

The capacity investment program is expected to create over 12,000 construction jobs and 1,000 long-term maintenance jobs over its 20-year operational lifespan, driving approximately AU$17 billion in local investment, including approximately AU$1 billion in Australian steel procurement. Key projects include the Bell Bay Wind Farm in Tasmania, the Liverpool Ridge Wind Farm Phase 1 and Dinavan Wind Farm in New South Wales, and the Hexham Wind Farm in Victoria, as well as several large-scale photovoltaic and energy storage projects in Queensland, Victoria, and South Australia. Developers can continue to expand renewable energy capacity through the seventh tender round, scheduled to launch on October 14, 2025, which aims to add 5 GW of capacity to the National Electricity Market.