NSW voices potential for 2.5 GW of wind power in state forests

The Forestry Corporation of New South Wales has opened a call for Expressions of Interest (EoIs) to develop renewable energy generation and storage projects in state-owned pine forests after receiving proposals for up to 2.5 GW of wind farms.

The manager of commercial native and plantation forests in the Aussie state said on Tuesday it has completed a Registration of Interest (RoI) process earlier this year to determine whether developers would be keen on developing renewable projects within its territories. A total of 47 responses have been received, indicating the potential to generate green power for more than 1.5 million local homes per year.

“Overwhelmingly, wind power has emerged as the most feasible technology [..],” said Forestry Corporation’s Strategy and Risk Manager Gavin Jeffries.

The government body made available five plantation sites in the RoI, covering about 165,000 hectares in plantations near Oberon, Sunny Corner, Bondo, Orange and Laurel Hill.

According to the results, the specific locations have turned out to be suitable for the installation of wind turbines, pumped hydro systems and battery storage capacity. Also, they offer good connections to the existing high-voltage transmission grid and the road network.

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