The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) has announced changes to the State’s Environmental Planning Policy to facilitate greater flexibility and innovation in the renewable energy sector.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Rob Stokes said amendments to the State Environmental Planning Policy (Infrastructure) Act 2007 allowed larger-scale solar systems to be installed on homes and commercial buildings without Council approval; enable utility providers to construct electricity storage as part of improvement works to transmission and distribution networks; and allow for large-scale battery storage systems to be built in permitted zones across NSW.
“Our planning system plays a key role in enabling investment in innovative renewable energy projects right across the state,” Mr Stokes said.
“These changes ensure planning requirements are aligned with advances in technology,” he said.
“And enable emerging energy projects to progress through the planning system more efficiently.”
Mr Stokes said the amendments also enabled utility providers to construct electricity storage as part of improvement works to transmission and distribution networks and allowed for large-scale battery storage systems to be built in permitted zones across NSW.
Minister for Energy and Environment, Matt Kean said the changes were good news for customers and the industry and would help support new energy generation projects funded through the State Governments $75 million Emerging Energy Program.
Mr Kean said residents had embraced renewable energy with about 490,000 homes and small businesses having installed small-scale solar.
