Please distribute to your network those sections which may be relevant.

Victorian renewable projects are particularly difficult to identify – see note Three

QUICK SUMMARY OF WHAT IS OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS:-

LOCATED or ADVISED THIS WEEK

8/3/24   Offshore Storage – another enquiry

13/3/24 Stratford PHES, Hunter Valley

15/3/24 Euston Wind, Balranald

18/3/24 Gippsland Basin CCS

18/3/24 S.A. Hydrogen Hub, $593M

25/3/24 Capacity Investment Scheme CIS changes

25/3/24 Thunderbolt wind IPCN New England

29/3/24 Tesla retail electricity licence in Vic

3/4/24   Vic Energy Jobs Plan

PREVIOUSLY

18?/3/24 Transgrid 8km Mount piper to Wallerawang

4/3/24    VNI West, Transgrid’s preferred route

22/3/24  House of Reps, EV’s and Batteries

25/3/24  IPCN Thunderbolt Wind

28/3/24  Borumba PHES

29/3/24 Tesla retail electricity

30/3/24 Australia’s new Nature Positive laws

5/4/24   S.A. Climate change Act

6/4/24   Tasmania’s Climate Change Plan

26/4/24 Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro

15/5/24 South West REZ

–

March 18th? Transgrid 8km Mount Piper to Wallerawang

Submissions https://www.transgrid.com.au/media-publications/news-articles/community-has-a-say-on-preferred-route-for-mount-piper-to-wallerawang-transmission-line-upgrade-project

4/3/24 Transgrids VNI West preferred route

https://www.pv-magazine-australia.com/2024/02/02/transgrid

8/3/24 Offshore Oil and Gas Storage – another enquiry. https://consult.industry.gov.au/find-consultations?status=open

13/3/24 Stratford PHES, Gloucester Hunter Valley, 300MW/12hr, Yancoal, https://epbcpublicportal.awe.gov.au/open-for-comments/project-decision/?id=0aa197a2-fed4-ee11-904c-00224893ddd8

15/3/24 Euston Wind, Balranald, 96turbines, 700MW, BESS 500MW/4hrhttps://epbcpublicportal.awe.gov.au/open-for-comments/project-decision/?id=0ac3d96f-c5d5-ee11-904d-0022489309b5

18/3/24  Gippsland Basin, CCS, Commonwealth part  https://epbcpublicportal.awe.gov.au/open-for-comments/project-decision/?id=462dcf3f-f7d5-ee11-904d-0022489309b5 State part https://epbcpublicportal.awe.gov.au/open-for-comments/project-decision/?id=2ea875c6-8fd6-ee11-904d-0022489332c3                     

18/3/24 S.A. Hydrogen Hub, Whyalla, 250MW electrolyser,, 200MW generator, https://epbcpublicportal.awe.gov.au/open-for-comments/project-decision/?id=623e618f-72d7-ee11-904c-6045bde708a5

22/3/23 House of Reps, EV’s and EV Batteries, details 

https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/House_of_Representatives/About_the_House_News/Media_Releases/Committee_launches_inquiry_into_the_transition_to_electric_vehicles

25/3/24 IPCN Thunderbolt Wind, Armidale, 32turbines, https://www.ipcn.nsw.gov.au/ speaker registration by 8 March, also https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects/projects/thunderbolt-wind-farm

25/3/24 Capacity Investment Scheme, CIS, underwriting expanded for the proposed 32GW, expected value $67BLN https://consult.dcceew.gov.au/expanded-capacity-investment-scheme-cis-design-paper

Expanded Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS) – Design PaperWe are seeking feedback from interested parties on the proposed design of the expanded CIS, including the proposed delivery method for the scheme’s national roll out.consult.dcceew.gov.au

28/3/24 Borumba PHEShttps://haveyoursay.dsd.qld.gov.au/coordinatorgeneral/borumbaphesdtor/ and https://qldhydro.com.au/draft-terms-of-reference-now-open-for-public-comment/

Draft Terms of Reference now open for public comment. – Queensland HydroThe Borumba Pumped Hydro Project EIS moves to next stage of planning and environment approvals with the release of the Terms of Reference.qldhydro.com.au

29/3/24 Tesla retail electricity licence in Vic https://engage.vic.gov.au/tesla-energy-ventures-australia-pty-ltd-application-for-an-electricity-retail-licence

Tesla Energy Ventures Australia Pty Ltd – licence applicationThe Essential Services Commission is reviewing a licence application from Tesla Energy Ventures Australia Pty Ltd and we want to hear from you.engage.vic.gov.au

?

30/3/24 Australia’s new Nature Positive laws,  EPBC Act reform – DCCEEW, to allow faster decisions

https://consult.dcceew.gov.au/australias-new-nature-positive-laws EDO comments https://www.edo.org.au/2024/02/29/nature-positive-within-reach-2024-the-year-for-long-awaited-national-environmental-law-reforms/

‘Nature positive’ within reach – 2024 the year for long-awaited national environmental law reforms – Environmental Defenders OfficeBy Frances Medlock, Solicitor, Commonwealth & Government Liaison, and Rachel Walmsley,?Head of Policy & Law Reform? Since mid-2023, the Federal Government has been consulting on reforms to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), Australia’s national environmental law. The EPBC Act is well overdue for reform, with almost all of the nation’s […]Read More…www.edo.org.au

?

3/4/24 Vic Energy Jobs Plan https://engage.vic.gov.au/vejp

Victorian Energy Jobs Plan Consultation PaperHave your say in shaping the Victorian Energy Jobs Planengage.vic.gov.au

?

5/4/24 S.A. Climate change Act https://yoursay.sa.gov.au/climate-change-bill and 

Climate Change Act – Draft Amendment BillHave your say on amendments to the Climate Change and Greenhouse Emissions Reduction Act 2007. What’s being decided? We are updating South Australia’s Climate Change and Greenhouse Emissions Reduction Act 2007 (the Act) to: update emission reduction and renewableyoursay.sa.gov.au

6/4/24 Tasmania’s Climate Change Plan

https://www.stategrowth.tas.gov.au/recfit/consultation_and_community/recent_closed_consultation/draft_climate_change_action_plan_2023-25/

26/4/24 Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydrodetails and have your say qldhydro.com.au/community/community-benefits-program/ and  qldhydro.com.au/projects/pioneer-burdekin

15/5/24 South West REZhttps://www.energyco.nsw.gov.au/news/refined-south-west-rez-draft-access-scheme-declaration

PETITIONS

–

OCCASIONAL NOTES

ONE – EVENTS

March 6-7, 2024 Sydney ICC, Smart Energy

March 14, 10am IPCN at Kentucky re Thunderbolt wind

March 19-21, 2024 Energy Networks + Exhibition, Convention Centre Adelaide

TWO – NSW project pipeline

At https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects/

Request for Sears

Lambruk solar and BESS, Tamworth

Aquila wind and BESS, 48turbines, Dubbo

Cobar Wind Farm 

SEARS Issued

Murrumburrah Battery Energy Storage System

Glen Innes Battery Energy Storage System

Yanco Battery Energy Storage System 

Wallaby Creek Wind Farm

Monaro Solar Farm

Avonside solar and BESS dubbo

Barney’s Reef wind and BESS – updated sears

Muswellbrook PHES

THREE – Victorian project pipeline

A. Complexity

In Victoria, environmentally sensitive and offshore projects go to the federal EPBC, and are easy to identify, https://epbcpublicportal.awe.gov.au/open-for-comments/.

Finding renewable energy projects at the state or local level is quite obscure. As Planning and Land Services advise:

The planning permit pathway would allow for notice of the application and consideration of submissions in many cases. However, this is dependent on the planning controls affecting the site. Some zones exempt applications from notice and appeal (advertising and submissions). Ministerial applications and decisions can be found on the Ministerial permits register here. https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/planning-approvals/ministerial-permits-register (Imposssible to comprehend, and for each PA you have to ask delwp.vic.gov.au for details, and the application may or not proceed.)

Another website also shows permit applications for energy generation and storage facilities in a list and GIS: 

https://mapshare.vic.gov.au/planningwebmaps/RenewablesSummary.html

A planning officer [email protected] told me that it depends whether we direct the proponent to give notice or not and it can be as simple as advertising in the local newspaper.

B. Vic Maps list of projects

Victorian project applications under consideration: Solar, Wind, BESS and Bio; MW

BAIRNSDALE SOLAR FARM	50	BE PRO BD
BARWON SOLAR FARM	330	Elgin Energy
COOBA SOLAR FARM	300	VENN ENERGY
ELAINE SOLAR FARM	150	ELGIN ENERGY
FLYNN SOLAR FARM	4.99	BNRG LEESON
HAZELWOOD NORTH SOLAR FARM	450	COENERGY
MAFFRA-BRIAGOLONG SOLAR FARM	5	BL Maffra Solar Nominees Pty Ltd
MUSKERRY SOLAR FARM	250	EDIFY ENERGY
WINTON ENERGY RESERVE FACILITY	200	LOCHARD ENERGY
WINTON LOCHARD ENERGY SOLAR AND HYDROGEN FACILITY	44	LOCHARD ENERGY PTY LTD

BADDAGINNIE SOLAR FARM	5	BIRDWOOD ENERGY PTY LTD
BREWSTER WIND FARM	42	RE FUTURE
GELLIONDALE WIND FARM	100	EXCEED ENERGY
MT FYANS WIND FARM	400	WOOLNORTH
MUMBLIN WIND FARM	54	RE FUTURE
SWANSONS LANE WIND FARM	39	RE FUTURE
WILLATOOK WIND FARM	354	Wind Prospect

KIEWA VALLEY HIGHWAY BESS	400	BIRDWOOD ENERGY RESERVE

LARA WASTE TO ENERGY FACILITY	30	PROSPECT HILL
WOLLERT WASTE TO ENERGY FACILITY	40	CLEANAWAY

Source https://mapshare.vic.gov.au/planningwebmaps/RenewablesSummary.html

FOUR

Mannum, 90km east of Adelaide, BESS 100MW/2hr, has secured a connection agreement. https://www.pv-magazine-australia.com/2024/03/01/epic-secures-connection-agreement-for-200-mwh-battery/

FIVE

Full Cost energy calculation by https://energybadboys.substack.com/p/3-energy-realities-that-renewable

SIX

 “Queensland is on target to achieve its 80% renewable energy goal by 2035 with 13 new large-scale solar and wind projects with a combined 4.38 GW of generation”.

SEVEN

The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has identified 41 GW of utility scale wind and solar in the investment pipeline for Queensland, representing $73 billion of investment proposals from private developers, with state government investment in transmission projects to be $10.4 billion

EIGHT

The NSW Government said on 1/3/24 that a further 29 renewable energy projects are in the planning process and another 70 new projects are about to be submitted for department approval. The state is in the process of redrawing its planning guidelines,

ENDS 2/3/24