Research: Powering Up The Hunter

Our first regional insights paper, Powering Up the Hunter, provides a detailed assessment of the region’s readiness for clean industry development, based on the initial results of 19 indicators in the National Action Plan pilot. It outlines the region’s strengths, gaps, and opportunities in areas such as enabling infrastructure, industry capacity, and policy alignment. It shows 17 of the 19 readiness indicators are still lagging – with many of those indicators key to the future of all industrial regions. As a key focus area, the Hunter is positioned to play a pivotal role in Australia’s clean energy future, particularly in the energy, industry and exports sectors. By downloading Powering Up the Hunter, you will also receive the Hunter Regional Readiness Report, a detailed analysis of our findings.

Key findings include:

74% of major renewable projects by capacity are stuck in planning — with average wait times of five to eight years

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Transmission delays — especially the Hunter Transmission Project—are slowing progress

Local manufacturers are ready, but lack the infrastructure and access to reliable and affordable clean energy to decarbonise at speed

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Ongoing fossil fuel support conflicts with zero-emissions goals, confusing investors, industry and workers.

There is a healthy pipeline of renewable energy projects, but approvals are slow. Delayed deployment threatens the Hunter’s ability to meet the twin challenges of decarbonising existing industries and scaling up clean exports. Transmission projects and distribution networks do not demonstrate sufficient planning for the electrification of existing industries and the development of new clean exports in the region.

The energy storage gap in NSW alone could effectively require the full capacity of the slated Capacity Investment Scheme storage (9 GW) to be filled. Green hydrogen demand anticipates electrification of existing industries, as well as a role for green hydrogen and derivatives in Australia’s green export mix. However, investment to deliver a forecasted demand of 1 Mt by 2035 currently falls approximately 75% short.

Three of the six biggest local manufacturers have bold emissions reduction targets that depend on securing access to affordable and reliable renewable energy, and the development of key technologies, factors that they alone cannot control.

Collaboration is key to moving forward. Government, industry, and communities must work together to unlock the Hunter’s full economic potential.

Headline recommendations are:

Accelerate deployment of firmed renewables and enabling infrastructure through streamlined approvals and improved coordination and regulation.
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Provide industry and investors with what they need – a stable, level playing field that incentivises and derisks decarbonisation, as well as eliminates loopholes for high-emissions industries.
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One clear, consistent policy direction for industry, workforce and investors.

At Beyond Zero Emissions, we are leading the charge with the National Action Plan, a bold initiative aimed at addressing the challenges of coordination across sectors and accelerating Australia’s clean energy transition. The National Action Plan will provide a place-based, multi-sector approach to ensure successful project delivery, targeting the industries that will power Australia's clean energy future.

Explore the National Action Plan

Latest Energy news & events

With the energy election now over, the Hunter’s progress towards serious green industrial export jobs has been assessed in the latest report by Beyond Zero Emissions

Media releases

Industry

May 21, 2025

Energy election over: Hunter’s progress towards serious green industrial export jobs assessed

Australians voted for a clean energy future, and this requires decisive action on the ground. Industry think tank BZE has assessed the Hunter’s readiness and progress towards becoming a major green industrial exporter.

Beyond Zero Emissions welcomes the formal approval of the Future Made in Australia package of legislation which will enable Australia to prosper in the global shift to net zero.

Media releases

Economy

November 28, 2024

Beyond Zero Emissions welcomes the passing of the Future Made in Australia legislation

Beyond Zero Emissions welcomes the formal approval of the Future Made in Australia package of legislation which will enable Australia to prosper in the global shift to net zero.

Media releases

Energy

September 10, 2024

CCA recommendations charts the right way forward towards net zero

Beyond Zero Emissions welcomes the Climate Change Authority’s Sector Pathways Review.

BZE welcomes new battery projects announced under Capacity Investment Scheme

Media releases

Manufacturing

September 5, 2024

BZE welcomes new battery projects announced under Capacity Investment Scheme

Beyond Zero Emissions welcomes the Federal Government’s announcement of nearly 1GW’s worth of new energy storage that six new battery projects will bring to the nation.

Cleantech Showcase

Discover the Australian clean technologies decarbonising our energy, buildings, mining and transport sectors.

Explore the Cleantech Showcase

Powering Up The Hunter

Our first insights paper, Powering Up the Hunter, provides a detailed assessment of the region’s readiness for clean industry development, based on the initial results of 19 indicators in the National Action Plan.

Powering Up The Hunter

Download the report

Key findings include:

Industry leaders support this research

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Latest Energy news & events

Latest Energy news & events

Cleantech Showcase

Further resources for Australia’s decarbonisation pathway

May 1, 2025

Powering Up The Hunter

May 8, 2024

Make it Here: Building Australia's Clean Industrial Future

January 1, 2023

National Supergrid

October 1, 2022

Deploy: Clean Technologies