Crown land is being used to support renewable energy projects, ensuring a sustainable and reliable energy future for NSW.
Lake Victoria Wind Farm
The Lake Victoria Wind Farm, proposed for development by WestWind Energy Pty Ltd, is set to be a major renewable energy project in south-west NSW, subject to planning approvals. With up to 201 turbines, the wind farm would have an installed capacity of up to 1,000 megawatts, producing approximately 3,400 gigawatt-hours of energy annually. This is enough to power up to 700,000 homes. The project would also include 3 battery energy storage systems with a total of 1,500 megawatt hours storage, ensuring a stable electricity supply. Construction is expected to take 2–3 years pending planning approvals, supporting up to 375 jobs, with 70 ongoing jobs once completed. The rental income from the lease would be reinvested into the Crown Reserves Improvement Fund to maintain and improve Crown reserves across the state, and grazier leaseholders on the Crown land on which the wind farm would be located would also receive a rental share.
Silver City Energy Storage Facility
The Silver City Energy Storage Facility in Broken Hill is another exciting renewable energy project. Developed by Hydrostor, this facility will be Australia's first advanced compressed air energy storage site and one of the largest renewable energy mini-grids in the world. It will use cutting-edge technology to store and generate renewable energy, providing a reliable power supply for Broken Hill and beyond.
Key benefits of renewable energy projects
Reliable power supply
The Lake Victoria Wind Farm would enhance the generation of power in far south-west NSW and the Silver City Energy Storage Facility would provide a dependable source of energy in the Far West even during outages.
Economic boost
The projects bring significant investment to the regions, creating hundreds of jobs and supporting local businesses.
Environmental impact
Increases renewable energy generation, contributing to reducing carbon emissions and promoting a cleaner environment.
Community support
Revenue from the lease of Crown land for renewable energy projects is reinvested into the Crown Reserves Improvement Fund (CRIF), supporting the maintenance and upgrade of Crown land reserves across NSW.
Future outlook
The NSW Government is committed to supporting renewable energy projects on Crown land to help secure a sustainable and reliable energy future. As part of the modernisation and reimagining of the role Crown land will play into the future, the focus of Crown land 2031 is on encouraging a greater diversity of contemporary uses of the Crown estate. This includes renewable energy generation, helping the NSW Government meet its commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2050.