Sydney as a Renewable Energy Zone

Publication

Could Sydney’s rooftops provide a metropolis of energy equity and abundance and help lead New South Wales’ clean energy transition? Explore the insights, barriers and actions that could make it possible.

Last updated: June 2025

New South Wales urgently needs to shift to clean energy. As coal-fired power stations shut down and the population grows, Metropolitan Sydney – the state’s largest city and biggest energy user – has a leading role to play.

Rooftop solar is already helping households cut energy bills, but much of its potential remains untapped. With better battery storage and smarter integration, this distributed solar network could ease pressure on the grid and deliver reliable clean energy when it’s needed most.

By harnessing this potential, Sydney has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to scale up renewables. This can be accelerated through the creation of a Sydney Urban Renewable Energy Zone (REZ).

To explore this opportunity, we’ve teamed up with the Committee for Sydney and Arcadis to produce Sydney as a Renewable Energy Zone: A metropolis of energy equity, affordability and abundance – a new report revealing the city’s untapped clean energy potential.

Report highlights include:

of Sydney’s energy needs could be met through rooftop solar and battery storage

of industrial estates’ energy needs – and surplus – could be supplied through rooftop solar and storage

of CBD buildings’ energy demand could be met using rooftop solar and storage

The opportunity is exciting, but the barriers are real. Today, renewable energy often benefits homeowners, leaving renters and apartment residents behind. Regulatory frameworks lag innovation, and material reuse still needs attention. By working together on the actions in this report, we can create a renewable energy future that is equitable, abundant and sustainable.