The Australian government has launched two new tenders under the Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS) to support renewable energy and firming projects in Western Australia. The tenders are expected to attract about $4 billion in private investment for the wholesale electricity market covering the state’s south-west region, including Perth. The tenders will add 1.6 GW of renewable generation along with 2.4 GWh of dispatchable storage. This will supply power to over 900,000 households annually and meet the peak demand of 550,000 households for four hours.

The tenders will contribute to Western Australia’s CIS allocation target of at least 2.3 GW of renewable generation and 4.4 GWh of dispatchable capacity. The bidders have ten weeks to submit bids under a streamlined process, with assessments based on deliverability, cost-effectiveness, grid reliability, engagement with First Nations communities, and binding commitments to deliver shared benefits. The deadline for bid submission is November 7, 2025.

Furthermore, the tenders are part of Australia’s broader plan to achieve 82 per cent renewables by 2030, with 40 GW of new renewable capacity supported by storage, transmission, and gas. Previous CIS rounds have finalised 19 agreements amounting to a capacity of 5.85 GW nationwide, with announced projects committing about $15 billion towards local employment, expenditure, and community and First Nations benefits.