The Australian Government has simplified the Capacity Investment Scheme process and unveiled four tenders for 2025 to accelerate renewables and storage investment.
Australia’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) has announced a streamlined approach to its Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS), shifting to a one-stage tender process to reduce assessment times and provide earlier certainty for project developers. Under the new system, proponents submit full bids including financial details in a single round, helping shorten the tender cycle from around nine months to roughly six months.
As part of this reform, the government plans to run four CIS tenders by the end of 2025, with two each in the National Electricity Market (NEM) and the Wholesale Electricity Market (WEM) in Western Australia. These tenders will include generation and dispatchable capacity opportunities, supporting Australia’s broader aims to boost renewable energy and storage infrastructure.
In parallel, a consultation has opened on including Aggregated Resources—such as smaller solar, wind, community batteries and virtual power plants—in the CIS, aiming to diversify market participation and enhance grid flexibility. Stakeholders are invited to provide feedback on this proposal.
