Draft energy policy framework
The draft energy policy framework was on exhibition from 14 November 2023 to 29 January 2024. The framework includes guidelines that will provide communities, councils and the energy industry with clearer guidance on how the impacts of renewable energy projects and transmission infrastructure will be assessed and managed.
Our guide to the energy policy framework explains the objectives of these new reforms and provides an overview of each policy.
Exhibited documents
Wind Energy Guideline
Wind Energy Guideline
The Wind Energy Guideline contains revised guidance for onshore wind energy projects including updated technical supplements for visual and noise impact assessment. This includes 4 documents:
Transmission Guideline
Transmission Guideline
The Transmission Guideline contains guidance including large-scale transmission infrastructure for landscape and visual impacts and other assessment issues. This is comprised of 2 documents:
Solar Energy Guideline
Solar Energy Guideline
The Large-scale Solar Energy Guideline, published in 2022, will be updated to align with other parts of the framework, including the Benefit Sharing Guideline. The proposed changes are outlined in the guide to the energy policy framework. A new calculator will assist landowners and applicants in estimating the likely costs of decommissioning.
Benefit-Sharing Guideline
Benefit-Sharing Guideline
The Benefit-Sharing Guideline contains guidance for benefit sharing with communities and planning agreements for wind and solar energy development.
Private Agreement Guideline
Private Agreement Guideline
The Private Agreement Guideline contains guidance and a template agreement for landowners entering into host or impact agreements.
More information
We are currently considering all submissions and aim to finalise the framework later this year. We look forward to reviewing your feedback, which will help ensure renewable energy development meets the needs of NSW and its communities.
If you have any questions about the policy framework, contact [email protected]