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Epoch Times
06-08-2025
- Business
- Epoch Times
Cost of NSW Renewable Zone Blows Out to $5.5 Billion Before Single Watt of Power Is Generated
Expected to produce an extra 4.5 gigawatts, the Central West Orana renewable energy zone will now cost New South Wales energy consumers $5.5 billion. A flock of sheep graze near wind turbines at sunrise in the Snowy Mountains region of New South Wales on July 28, 2025. A flock of sheep graze near wind turbines at sunrise in the Snowy Mountains region of New South Wales on July 28, 2025. Saeed Khan/AFP via Getty Images The first renewable energy zone (REZ) announced by the New South Wales government will now cost the state's energy consumers $5.5 billion, rather than the $650 million initially estimated in 2021. What's the Zone Planned For? It was the first zone to be developed under the NSW government's 'Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap,' and is planned to initially deliver 4.5 gigawatts (GW) to 10 projects that secured access rights earlier this year. The troubled Central-West Orana (CWO) REZ covers approximately 20,000 square kilometres in central NSW, centred on Dubbo and was the first zone to be developed under the NSW government's 'Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap,' and is planned to initially deliver 4.5 gigawatts (GW) to 10 projects that secured access rights earlier this year. The companies involved include Australian iron ore billionaire Andrew Forrest's Squadron Energy and another Australian group, Tilt Renewables, along with the Philippines-based Acen Renewables, British company Lightsource bp, and the German-controlled Pacific Partnerships. Story continues below advertisement The projects are a mix of solar, wind and storage with a planned capacity of 7.15 GW and storage of 5.2 GWh. Eventually, the development is slated to support up to 7.7 GW by 2038. Delivering the energy generated by the private providers will require 90 kilometres of 500 kiloVolt (kV) overhead transmission lines and 150 kilometres of 330 kV lines, stretching from Elong Elong in the west through to Barigan Creek in the east, via an energy hub at Merotherie. More Funds Needed From All Stakeholders However, rising costs meant ACEREZ went to the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) to This transmission infrastructure is to be constructed, owned and operated by ACEREZ Partnership , and NSW's Electricity Infrastructure Investment Act requires that its costs be met by the state's electricity distributors, who in turn recover it from customers via their retail rising costs meant ACEREZ went to the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) to seek permission to increase charges to consumers. The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), in its 2025 Electricity Network Options Report, said costs are, in some cases, 100 percent higher than it reported in 2024. And given last year's estimate was based on 2023 assumptions, that means costs have doubled in two years. Story continues below advertisement Given the sharp rise in costs, the AER approved the increase, but points out that this will not be entirely covered by electricity customers, with some also coming from REZ access fees paid by generators and storage providers. In addition to capital costs, consumers must also contribute to operational costs through quarterly payments. AER says these will amount to $1,511.9 million over the first five years of the project (2025–29). The government expects that up to $20 billion will be privately invested in solar, wind, and energy storage projects, supporting about 5,000 jobs during peak construction. The Central-West Orana REZ is planned as the first of five in the state, eventually providing 12 GW of renewable energy projects and 2 GW of storage, including large-scale batteries. The Albanese government's plan to transition completely from coal to renewables by 2050 will require the construction of about 10,000 kilometres of high-voltage transmission lines similar to those being built at the CWO REZ site.
Glasgow Times
17-05-2025
- General
- Glasgow Times
Veteran, 102, recalls war stories as he joins comrades at royal garden party
Harry Winter, 102, flew in the 427th Squadron, also known as the Lion squadron, which was involved in bombing campaigns against Germany between 1942 and 1945. Speaking at the garden party for beneficiaries of The Not Forgotten Association on Friday, Mr Winter remembered seeing his plane's rear gunner with his head 'blown off' after their aircraft was hit on an operation in 1943. 'I did operations in France, Germany and Italy. One trip, we were greeted over Holland by flak and had to shake off a night fighter on our tail,' Mr Winter, who turns 103 next week, told the PA news agency. The Duchess of Gloucester met Harry Winter (Aaron Chown/PA) 'When we reached the target, we were the second wave and as we dropped our bombs, the pilot said we had been hit. 'We couldn't get any answer from our gunners so I went to see what was wrong. When I saw the rear gunner, half his head was blown off. 'I just remember the pilot saying 'bail out, bail out'.' At the garden party, Mr Winter met the Duchess of Gloucester, who has attended several previous events with The Not Forgotten Association. The association is a tri-service charity, providing entertainment and leisure for ex-service and still serving personnel who are sick, injured or wounded. After his Halifax was shot down in 1943, with four crew members killed, Mr Winter was made a prisoner of war in Bankau, a part of modern day Poland, but then German-controlled territory. 'After we landed, we were captured and were made prisoners of war. We were taken to a prison camp and put in huts about 10ft long and 8ft high, with six of us in each.' Mr Winter went on to describe being forced on a gruelling march through Czechoslovakia towards just south of Berlin because of USSR advances against Nazi Germany in 1945. But eventually, appearing caught up by difficult memories, he turned to a brighter note, shifting the topic to the 'wonderful' experience of being reunited with fellow veterans during VE Day celebrations earlier this month. The Duchess of Gloucester met Mr Winter, alongside other veterans, and told the 102-year-old: 'It is so special to see you all together'. Around 2,000 personnel of all ages and all military services were united at the Buckingham Palace garden party.
North Wales Chronicle
17-05-2025
- General
- North Wales Chronicle
Veteran, 102, recalls war stories as he joins comrades at royal garden party
Harry Winter, 102, flew in the 427th Squadron, also known as the Lion squadron, which was involved in bombing campaigns against Germany between 1942 and 1945. Speaking at the garden party for beneficiaries of The Not Forgotten Association on Friday, Mr Winter remembered seeing his plane's rear gunner with his head 'blown off' after their aircraft was hit on an operation in 1943. 'I did operations in France, Germany and Italy. One trip, we were greeted over Holland by flak and had to shake off a night fighter on our tail,' Mr Winter, who turns 103 next week, told the PA news agency. 'When we reached the target, we were the second wave and as we dropped our bombs, the pilot said we had been hit. 'We couldn't get any answer from our gunners so I went to see what was wrong. When I saw the rear gunner, half his head was blown off. 'I just remember the pilot saying 'bail out, bail out'.' At the garden party, Mr Winter met the Duchess of Gloucester, who has attended several previous events with The Not Forgotten Association. The association is a tri-service charity, providing entertainment and leisure for ex-service and still serving personnel who are sick, injured or wounded. After his Halifax was shot down in 1943, with four crew members killed, Mr Winter was made a prisoner of war in Bankau, a part of modern day Poland, but then German-controlled territory. 'After we landed, we were captured and were made prisoners of war. We were taken to a prison camp and put in huts about 10ft long and 8ft high, with six of us in each.' Mr Winter went on to describe being forced on a gruelling march through Czechoslovakia towards just south of Berlin because of USSR advances against Nazi Germany in 1945. But eventually, appearing caught up by difficult memories, he turned to a brighter note, shifting the topic to the 'wonderful' experience of being reunited with fellow veterans during VE Day celebrations earlier this month. The Duchess of Gloucester met Mr Winter, alongside other veterans, and told the 102-year-old: 'It is so special to see you all together'. Around 2,000 personnel of all ages and all military services were united at the Buckingham Palace garden party.
Belfast Telegraph
16-05-2025
- General
- Belfast Telegraph
Veteran, 102, recalls war stories as he joins comrades at royal garden party
Harry Winter, 102, flew in the 427th Squadron, also known as the Lion squadron, which was involved in bombing campaigns against Germany between 1942 and 1945. Speaking at the garden party for beneficiaries of The Not Forgotten Association on Friday, Mr Winter remembered seeing his plane's rear gunner with his head 'blown off' after their aircraft was hit on an operation in 1943. 'I did operations in France, Germany and Italy. One trip, we were greeted over Holland by flak and had to shake off a night fighter on our tail,' Mr Winter, who turns 103 next week, told the PA news agency. 'When we reached the target, we were the second wave and as we dropped our bombs, the pilot said we had been hit. 'We couldn't get any answer from our gunners so I went to see what was wrong. When I saw the rear gunner, half his head was blown off. 'I just remember the pilot saying 'bail out, bail out'.' At the garden party, Mr Winter met the Duchess of Gloucester, who has attended several previous events with The Not Forgotten Association. The association is a tri-service charity, providing entertainment and leisure for ex-service and still serving personnel who are sick, injured or wounded. After his Halifax was shot down in 1943, with four crew members killed, Mr Winter was made a prisoner of war in Bankau, a part of modern day Poland, but then German-controlled territory. 'After we landed, we were captured and were made prisoners of war. We were taken to a prison camp and put in huts about 10ft long and 8ft high, with six of us in each.' Mr Winter went on to describe being forced on a gruelling march through Czechoslovakia towards just south of Berlin because of USSR advances against Nazi Germany in 1945. But eventually, appearing caught up by difficult memories, he turned to a brighter note, shifting the topic to the 'wonderful' experience of being reunited with fellow veterans during VE Day celebrations earlier this month. The Duchess of Gloucester met Mr Winter, alongside other veterans, and told the 102-year-old: 'It is so special to see you all together'. Around 2,000 personnel of all ages and all military services were united at the Buckingham Palace garden party.
Western Telegraph
16-05-2025
- General
- Western Telegraph
Veteran, 102, recalls war stories as he joins comrades at royal garden party
Harry Winter, 102, flew in the 427th Squadron, also known as the Lion squadron, which was involved in bombing campaigns against Germany between 1942 and 1945. Speaking at the garden party for beneficiaries of The Not Forgotten Association on Friday, Mr Winter remembered seeing his plane's rear gunner with his head 'blown off' after their aircraft was hit on an operation in 1943. 'I did operations in France, Germany and Italy. One trip, we were greeted over Holland by flak and had to shake off a night fighter on our tail,' Mr Winter, who turns 103 next week, told the PA news agency. The Duchess of Gloucester met Harry Winter (Aaron Chown/PA) 'When we reached the target, we were the second wave and as we dropped our bombs, the pilot said we had been hit. 'We couldn't get any answer from our gunners so I went to see what was wrong. When I saw the rear gunner, half his head was blown off. 'I just remember the pilot saying 'bail out, bail out'.' At the garden party, Mr Winter met the Duchess of Gloucester, who has attended several previous events with The Not Forgotten Association. The association is a tri-service charity, providing entertainment and leisure for ex-service and still serving personnel who are sick, injured or wounded. After his Halifax was shot down in 1943, with four crew members killed, Mr Winter was made a prisoner of war in Bankau, a part of modern day Poland, but then German-controlled territory. 'After we landed, we were captured and were made prisoners of war. We were taken to a prison camp and put in huts about 10ft long and 8ft high, with six of us in each.' Mr Winter went on to describe being forced on a gruelling march through Czechoslovakia towards just south of Berlin because of USSR advances against Nazi Germany in 1945. But eventually, appearing caught up by difficult memories, he turned to a brighter note, shifting the topic to the 'wonderful' experience of being reunited with fellow veterans during VE Day celebrations earlier this month. The Duchess of Gloucester met Mr Winter, alongside other veterans, and told the 102-year-old: 'It is so special to see you all together'. Around 2,000 personnel of all ages and all military services were united at the Buckingham Palace garden party.
