Australia Launches a Tender for 6 GW of Renewable Energy

As part of the Capacity Investment Scheme, Australia aims for 6 GW of new renewable energy capacity to accelerate its energy transition and meet the growing demands of the national electricity market.

Partagez:

Australia has taken a significant step in its energy transition by launching a tender to add 6 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy capacity to its National Electricity Market (NEM). This initiative is part of the Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS), an ambitious program targeting the deployment of 32 GW of renewable and storage capacity by 2030.

The CIS aims to ensure a transition aligned with national climate objectives while meeting the growing demand for electricity. This fourth tender, named Tender 4, marks a key milestone in this effort.

Modalities and Schedule

Tender 4 has been officially announced with a Market Brief outlining participation modalities. Registrations are open and will close on February 11, 2025. An initial project submission phase, called Stage A, will begin on December 13, 2024. The process has also been expanded to include projects that were not selected in previous tenders, particularly Tender 1.

Capacity Allocation

The planned 6 GW will be distributed across various jurisdictions, reflecting local energy needs and priorities:

– New South Wales (NSW): 2.2 GW.
– Victoria: 1.4 GW.
– South Australia and Tasmania: 0.3 GW each.
– Unallocated capacity: 1.8 GW.

This distribution highlights the central role of states like New South Wales and Victoria, which receive a significant portion of the allocated capacity.

Eligibility Criteria

All projects located within NEM jurisdictions, including the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and Queensland, are eligible. The program particularly encourages initiatives combining renewable technologies and grid-adapted storage solutions, an essential approach to enhancing the resilience and stability of the electrical system.

Impacts and Challenges

The Capacity Investment Scheme demonstrates Australia’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions from its electricity network. Beyond environmental benefits, the program stimulates investments in energy infrastructure and creates economic opportunities, especially in innovative technologies.

Efforts by jurisdictions like New South Wales and Victoria illustrate a strong willingness to lead in the energy transition, thereby reinforcing their strategic role within the NEM. In the long term, this initiative could serve as a model for other nations seeking to balance economic growth with environmental sustainability.

According to the 2025 report on global energy access, despite notable progress in renewable energy, insufficient targeted financing continues to hinder electricity and clean cooking access, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
While advanced economies maintain global energy leadership, China and the United States have significantly progressed in the security and sustainability of their energy systems, according to the World Economic Forum's annual report.
On the sidelines of the US–Africa summit in Luanda, Algiers and Luanda consolidate their energy collaboration to better exploit their oil, gas, and mining potential, targeting a common strategy in regional and international markets.
The UK's Climate Change Committee is urging the government to quickly reduce electricity costs to facilitate the adoption of heat pumps and electric vehicles, judged too slow to achieve the set climate targets.
The European Commission will extend until the end of 2030 an expanded state-aid framework, allowing capitals to fund low-carbon technologies and nuclear power to preserve competitiveness against China and the United States.
Japan's grid operator forecasts an energy shortfall of up to 89 GW by 2050 due to rising demand from semiconductor manufacturing, electric vehicles, and artificial intelligence technologies.
Energy-intensive European industries will be eligible for temporary state aid to mitigate high electricity prices, according to a new regulatory framework proposed by the European Commission under the "Clean Industrial Deal."
Mauritius seeks international investors to swiftly build a floating power plant of around 100 MW, aiming to secure the national energy supply by January 2026 and address current production shortfalls.
Madrid announces immediate energy storage measures while Lisbon secures its electrical grid, responding to the historic outage that affected the entire Iberian Peninsula in late April.
Indonesia has unveiled its new national energy plan, projecting an increase of 69.5 GW in electricity capacity over ten years, largely funded by independent producers, to address rapidly rising domestic demand.
French Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher condemns the parliamentary moratorium on new renewable energy installations, warning of the potential loss of 150,000 industrial jobs and increased energy dependence on foreign countries.
The European battery regulation, fully effective from August 18, significantly alters industrial requirements related to electric cars and bicycles, imposing strict rules on recycling, supply chains, and transparency for companies.
The European Parliament calls on the Commission to strengthen energy infrastructure and accelerate the implementation of the Clean Industrial Deal to enhance the continent's energy flexibility and security amid increased market volatility.
The European Commission unveils an ambitious plan to modernize electricity grids and introduces the Clean Industrial Deal, mobilizing hundreds of billions of euros to strengthen the continent's industrial and energy autonomy.
In the United States, regulated electric grid operators hold a decisive advantage in connecting new data centres to the grid, now representing 134 GW of projects, according to a Wood Mackenzie report published on June 19.
The French National Assembly approves a specific target of 200 TWh renewable electricity production by 2030 within a legislative text extensively debated about the future national energy mix.
In 2024, US CO₂ emissions remain stable at 5.1bn tonnes, as the Trump administration prepares hydrocarbon-friendly energy policies, raising questions about the future evolution of the American market.
The early publication of France's energy decree triggers strong parliamentary reactions, as the government aims to rapidly secure investments in nuclear and other energy sectors.
Seven weeks after the major Iberian power outage, Spain identifies technical network failures, while the European Investment Bank approves major funding to strengthen the interconnection with France.
The European Union has announced a detailed schedule aiming to definitively halt Russian gas imports by the end of 2027, anticipating internal legal and commercial challenges to overcome.