Victoria Releases its Blueprint for a Secure and Sustainable Energy Future

The Victorian Government has released its first big plan for getting more of the state’s energy from renewable sources like wind and solar. The Victorian Transmission Plan (VTP) – currently in draft form and open for public consultation – is VicGrid’s long-term strategy to make sure the right infrastructure is in the right place at the right time. It’s an essential plan as dirty, unreliable, costly coal-fired power stations close down and more renewable power is needed to keep electricity affordable, reliable, secure and sustainable for everyone.

The plan identifies seven proposed regions (collectively covering 7 percent of the state) most suitable for new onshore wind, solar farm and battery storage development over the next 15 years known as Renewable Energy Zones (REZs). VTP gives investors certainty while balancing considerations such as the impact on local communities, landholders and First Nations peoples.

These are the draft REZs prepared for public consultation:

• Central Highlands
• Central North
• Gippsland (This refers to the onshore Gippsland REZ, which is separate from the Gippsland Shoreline REZ)
• North West
• South West
• Grampians Wimmera
• Wimmera Southern Mallee

VTP also includes a separate proposed Gippsland Shoreline REZ, specifically designed to host onshore connection infrastructure for offshore wind generation.