NSW Invests in Renewables Manufacturing Hub for Wind and Solar Components
The New South Wales government has announced a significant investment of $28 million to establish a new Renewables Manufacturing Hub in Blacktown, located in western Sydney. This initiative is set to create 116 full-time jobs for the local community.
The hub will be developed by the Australian-owned company Sell & Parker, which will contribute an additional $38 million towards the project. The facility is anticipated to commence operations by late 2027 and will focus on manufacturing essential components for the wind and solar energy sectors.
Production Goals and Local Impact
Once operational, the hub aims to produce a variety of components, including turbine anchors for wind energy, thousands of torque tubes, mounts, and brackets for solar farms, as well as 200 monopoles annually for transmission infrastructure. Simon Preston, the group general manager at Sell & Parker, emphasised the importance of this project, stating, “Fast-tracking our build of steel turbine anchors, solar trackers components and transmission monopoles means we can supply more renewable projects with Aussie steel made right here in Western Sydney.”
Renewable Energy Roadmap and Challenges
The establishment of this hub aligns with New South Wales’ broader renewable energy roadmap, which aims to enhance wind, solar, and storage capacity, along with the necessary transmission links, to facilitate the closure of remaining coal-fired power plants over the next decade. However, there are growing concerns regarding the pace of capacity development, particularly with the Eraring power station’s closure now postponed from 2025 to at least 2027, alongside other coal generators.
This funding is part of the Renewable Manufacturing Construction Ready Stream, which falls under the NSW government’s $480 million Net Zero Manufacturing Initiative. Penny Sharpe, the state minister for climate change and energy, remarked, “The Minns Labor Government is driving new jobs and this new Renewables Manufacturing Hub is a perfect example of the way NSW is building the industries of the future right here at home.” She further noted that the facility will not only provide the necessary steel components for renewable energy projects across the state but will also enhance Western Sydney’s reputation as a hub of innovation and manufacturing.
Challenges in Wind Turbine Manufacturing
Manufacturing wind turbines in Australia has proven to be a challenging endeavour. Historically, turbines were produced locally, but a decade of policy uncertainty under various federal Coalition governments led to the decline of local operations. Last year, Keppel Prince, the last remaining turbine parts manufacturer in Australia, announced it would cease operations in this sector after struggling to compete with cheaper imports from China. The company faced a prolonged battle over 15 years of fluctuating climate policy, which ultimately jeopardised its viability.
