The Net Zero Economy Authority has launched the Net Zero Investment Map, an interactive tool that brings together more than 800 renewable energy and research projects supported by the Commonwealth Government.
For communities in the Hunter, the map provides a consolidated view of how public and private investment is reshaping the region’s energy landscape. It allows users to see where projects are located, their development status, levels of government support, expected power generation, estimated job numbers and, where available, total investment values.
The map also includes contextual information such as existing power stations and their announced closure dates, transmission infrastructure and renewable energy zones. This allows regions like the Hunter, long associated with coal-fired power and heavy industry, to view both the pace and direction of change in one place.
Bringing dispersed data into one place
The Net Zero Investment Map was developed in partnership with RenewMap. According to the Net Zero Economy Authority, it is the first time net zero investments supported through multiple Commonwealth schemes have been brought together on a single platform.
Net Zero Economy Authority chief executive David Shankey said the map provides clearer information for communities, industry and investors navigating the energy transition.
“The Net Zero Investment Map highlights how Australia’s transition to a net zero emissions economy is already underway, with new investment, jobs and opportunities across the country.”
“The Net Zero Economy Authority helps coordinate Australia’s transition to net zero with clear, accessible information for communities, business and government. The Net Zero Investment Map is one of the tools that can help us do that,” Mr Shankey said.
RenewMap director Alex Thompson said the value of the map lies in consolidating complex datasets into an accessible format.
“Australia has an extraordinary transformation ahead. By consolidating these projects into a single, interactive platform, the Net Zero Investment Map helps Australians understand the broad spectrum of Commonwealth investment across net zero research and renewable energy projects,” he said.
Why the Hunter is a priority region
The Hunter is listed by the Net Zero Economy Authority as one of its priority regions, reflecting both its exposure to decarbonisation and its potential to benefit from emerging industries.
Priority regions are those where change is occurring quickly due to the shift away from emissions-intensive industries, or where clean energy and related sectors present new economic opportunities. Alongside the Hunter, other priority regions include Central Queensland, Latrobe-Gippsland, the Pilbara, Upper Spencer Gulf and Collie in Western Australia.
For the Hunter, the investment map provides visibility over projects that are already underway, helping local workers, councils, businesses and investors better understand how the transition is unfolding on the ground.
The Authority’s role in the transition
The Net Zero Economy Authority was established to support workers, communities and regions as Australia moves toward net zero emissions by 2050. Its focus is on practical support, trusted information and long-term regional prosperity.
As coal and gas-fired power is replaced by renewable energy such as wind and solar, the Authority works with affected regions to identify new opportunities, support skills development and help attract investment into new industries.
This includes supporting workers with training and career pathways, assisting communities to plan for change, engaging with First Nations groups, helping businesses adapt, and facilitating investment in regions that have powered Australia for decades.
The Authority also acts as a national source of evidence-based advice to government, using region-specific analysis to inform where support and investment are most needed.
A tool that will evolve over time
The Net Zero Investment Map does not capture every Commonwealth-backed project. The Net Zero Economy Authority has stated it will continue working with Commonwealth and state agencies and investment schemes to update the map over time.
For the Hunter, this means the picture presented today is not static. As new projects are approved and others progress through development, the map is intended to remain a live reference point for understanding how the region’s economy is changing as Australia moves toward net zero.
By bringing together projects, infrastructure and policy context in one place, the map offers Hunter communities a clearer way to see both the scale of current investment and the role the region is expected to play in the national transition.
