Renewable energy on Crown land

The NSW Government is committed to supporting renewable energy projects on Crown land to help secure a sustainable and reliable energy future for our communities.

NSW is leading a once-in-a-generation upgrade of the electricity network, building the infrastructure we need to keep the lights on. Crown land offers vast opportunities for innovative energy solutions that benefit both local economies and the environment.

One of the most exciting projects is the Silver City Energy Storage Facility in Broken Hill. 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.

Developed by Hydrostor, it will use cutting-edge technology to store and generate renewable energy, ensuring a stable power supply for Broken Hill and beyond.

Revenue from the lease of Crown land for renewable energy projects such as this one is reinvested into the Crown Reserves Improvement Fund (CRIF). This fund supports the maintenance and upgrade of Crown land reserves across NSW, ensuring these valuable spaces continue to serve our communities.

As part of the modernisation and reimagining of the role Crown land will play into the future, the focus of Crown land 2031 (our 10-year strategy) is on encouraging a greater diversity of contemporary uses of the Crown estate. This includes renewable energy generation. This will mean Crown land will play an important role in helping the NSW Government meet its commitment to achieving net zero by 2050.