King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) is delighted to have acted for Transgrid on its negotiations with EnergyCo and ACEREZ on network augmentation, network to network connection and ancillary project documents over a 2-year period to facilitate the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (CWO REZ).
The CWO REZ is a 20,000 sqm of new network infrastructure including transmission lines, energy hubs and enabling infrastructure. It is the first of five in NSW and plays a key role in the NSW Government’s Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap, aimed at providing a more reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity system for millions of consumers statewide.
It is also the first PPP for transmission infrastructure in Australia and major contestable and non-contestable undertaking that was premised on first of its kind commercial and regulatory frameworks and bespoke legal documentation.
KWM’s role in the project also included advising Transgrid on its downstream construction arrangements, in partnership with infrastructure delivery partner Zinfra who will design and construct the relevant infrastructure for network augmentation and connection.
The KWM team was led by Partner Shirley Cheng with support from Solicitor Thanaya Naidu, Senior Associates Jovana Zelenbaba, David Ellis, Paul Propper and Callum Albury, and Partners Kate Dean, Steve Swan and Vishal Ahuja.
Commenting on the project, Partner Shirley Cheng commented:
“It was a pleasure and privilege to work with our valued client Transgrid on this significant project that will transfer power generated by solar and wind farms to electricity consumers – an important milestone in the NSW Government’s Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap and energy transition”.
This project builds on KWM’s deep expertise in supporting clients on market leading transactions that support the country’s energy transition, recently advising Transgrid on its appointment by EnergyCo as the preferred network operator for the Hunter Transmission Project.
