COBRA IS, through its subsidiary Cobra Group and in a consortium with Acciona and the local energy distributor Endeavor Energy, was awarded a commitment deed contract by the New South Wales (NSW) Government for the construction of several high-voltage power lines in the central-west region of Orana, in the state of New South Wales, Australia.

The project includes the design, financing, construction, operation and maintenance of several 500 kV and 330 kV transmission lines, associated substations and associated connection to renewable energy parks located in the Central West Orana region, one of the first of five Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) designated by the NSW Government to encourage investment in renewable generation and storage projects. The Government’s statutory authority Energy Corporation (EnergyCo) is the body responsible for leading development and investment in these areas, detailed in the Government’s Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap, which aims to develop at least 12 GW of renewable energy and 2 GW of storage by 2030.

The development of this major energy transition project is a major step towards formalising Orana’s Central West REZ, as it will be the first renewable electricity mega-generation zone that will revolutionise the conventional mode of energy generation and supply in the state of New South Wales. The project will provide up to 4.5 GW of renewable energy to more than 2.7 million people in the 20,000 square kilometre region surrounding the towns of Dubbo and Dunedoo,

Engineering works are scheduled to start in early 2024, with the grid gradually operational from the third quarter of 2027.