The Albanese Government has announced a significant boost to Australia’s renewable energy sector through the Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS), awarding 20 successful projects that will deliver 6.6 gigawatts (GW) of new renewable generation capacity by 2030 — enough to power over 3 million households.
The latest round, CIS Tender 4 in the National Electricity Market (NEM), attracted 84 bids totaling 25.6 GW, more than four times the 6 GW target, highlighting strong investor interest in Australia’s clean energy transition.
Battery Storage and Wind Projects Lead the Way
Twelve of the successful projects include large-scale batteries, providing a combined 3.5 GW / 11.4 GWh of storage — sufficient to support peak demand for over 2.6 million households for four hours. Nearly half of the total generation capacity comes from wind projects, including Tasmania’s first CIS initiative, the Bell Bay Wind Farm, reflecting growing investment in Australia’s wind industry.
Community and First Nations Benefits
The projects will deliver approximately $291 million in shared community benefits and $348 million in First Nations benefits. Community support includes funding for regional libraries, pools, parks, schools, energy rebates, biodiversity programs, and partnerships with local TAFEs for workforce development. Several projects also include First Nations revenue-sharing agreements, subcontracting, training, and long-term workforce opportunities.
Economic Impact
The CIS is expected to generate over 12,000 construction jobs and more than 1,000 long-term maintenance roles across the 20-year asset lifespan, with around $17 billion in local investment, including roughly $1 billion in Australian steel.
Notable Projects Across States
Major projects include Bell Bay Wind Farm in Tasmania, Liverpool Range Wind Stage 1 and Dinawan Wind Farm in New South Wales, Hexham Wind Farm in Victoria, and multiple large-scale solar and battery projects in Queensland, Victoria, and South Australia. Combined, these initiatives demonstrate strong commitment to both wind and solar generation across the country, with several projects integrating battery storage to enhance grid reliability.
Developers will have additional opportunities to expand renewable capacity, with CIS Tender 7, targeting 5 GW of NEM generation, opening for registrations and bids on 14 October 2025, followed by the next dispatchable capacity round in late November.
Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, said:
“The Capacity Investment Scheme continues to be popular and competitive, delivering cheaper, cleaner, and more reliable energy for all Australians for years to come. We are rebuilding Australia’s energy grid to make it modern, reliable, and fair, while attracting global interest in our wind and solar sectors. This scheme is not only delivering clean power but also creating thousands of high-quality jobs in regional and rural areas, and training the next generation of engineers, electricians, and tradespeople who will build our energy future.”
The round builds on previous CIS rounds, which have already delivered 6 GW of clean capacity nationally, further cementing Australia’s position as a global leader in renewable energy.
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