New South Wales energy transition sees renewable construction and coal mine protests

In New South Wales, the energy landscape is seeing both contentious coal expansions and new renewable developments. Construction has commenced on a solar-battery hybrid project within the Hunter–Central Coast renewable energy zone (REZ). This project, a collaboration between OX2 and Idemitsu Australia, involves converting a mothballed coal mine into a 135-megawatt solar farm and a 100-megawatt battery energy storage system. The project is expected to connect to the grid in late 2027 and start operations by 2028.

Simultaneously, advocacy group Parents for Climate has raised concerns regarding a proposed extension of the Hunter Valley Operations (HVO) coal mine. Analysis by the group suggests the mine's projected emissions could result in approximately $212 billion in global climate damage. The group argues that this economic burden, calculated using the social cost of carbon, would equate to an inherited debt of nearly $120,000 for every child living in New South Wales.