VicGrid carried out public consultation on the renewable energy zone study area from 22 July to 30 September 2024. VicGrid undertook a bespoke strategic land use assessment to identify parts of Victoria for further study for potential future renewable energy development.    The strategic land use assessment is a new process to support electricity system planning in Victoria. It recognises the primary importance of land and landscape values for many Victorians, for reasons covering culture and heritage, livelihoods, ecosystems and biodiversity, food and fibre, recreation, strategic minerals and many others. Impacts on these need to be minimised, alongside energy system considerations like keeping the cost of energy low and attracting renewable energy investment to locations where it is most productive.   The resulting 2024 study area showed the parts of Victoria that had the potential to host new energy system infrastructure, such as wind and solar generation, as well as supporting transmission lines.   Within the study area, VicGrid identified three categories of land (tiers 1-3) to prioritise investigations for areas of Victoria that could host a renewable energy zone and transmission. Further land use assessment work will be done to assess options for any transmission projects that may be needed. The investigation focused on using tiers 1-3 but could traverse lower preference areas.

This dataset contains the locations of Victoria’s draft renewable energy zones. VicGrid has run an 18-month process of consultation and technical work to identify the zones as part of developing the 2025 Victorian Transmission Plan (VTP). The zones are strategic areas suitable to host new large-scale renewable generation projects over the next 15 years. The Minister for Energy and Resources has now issued draft renewable energy zone orders for 5 onshore zones - the Western, Central Highlands, Gippsland, North West and South West zones - and the Gippsland Shoreline zone. The declaration process is another chance for people to provide feedback to help shape development of the zones.