NSW backs new renewables manufacturing hub for wind anchors and solar trackers in western Sydney

The New South Wales state government says it will invest $28 million into the creation of a new Renewables Manufacturing Hub in Blacktown in western Sydney that will employ 116 full-time workers.

The new bub will be built by Australian-owned metal recycling company Sell & Parker, who will also invest $38 million of its own money.

The hub is expected to be operational in late 2027, and aims to produce turbine anchors for the wind sector, thousands of torque tubes, mounts and brackets for solar farms, and 200 monopoles per year for transmission infrastructure.

“Fast-tracking our build of steel turbine anchors, solar trackers components and transmission monopoles means we can supply more renewable projects with Aussie steel made right here in Western Sydney,” said Simon Preston, group general manager at Sell & Parker.

NSW is currently in the midst of a renewable energy roadmap that is designed to deliver enough new wind, solar and storage capacity, and the required transmission links, to allow its remaining coal fired power plants to close over the coming decade.

There is already concern that not enough capacity is being built quickly enough to allow the closure of Eraring, already delayed from 2025 to at least 2027, and the other three coal fired generators.

The funding was awarded under the Renewable Manufacturing Construction Ready Stream, part of the NSW government’s $480 million Net Zero Manufacturing Initiative.

“The Minns Labor Government is driving new jobs and this new Renewables Manufacturing Hub is a perfect example of the way NSW is building the industries of the future right here at home,” said Penny Sharpe, state minister for climate change and energy.

“This facility will not only deliver the steel components needed for renewable energy projects across the state, but it will also strengthen Western Sydney’s role as a powerhouse of innovation and manufacturing.”

Wind turbine manufacturing is a challenging business in Australia. Turbines used to be made in Australia but but policy uncertainty over a decade of federal Coalition governments put local operations out of business.

Last year Australia’s last remaining turbines parts maker Keppel Prince said it would have to shut what remains of this part of its Victorian engineering business after fighting a losing battle to compete with cheaper Chinese imports.

The company struggled through 15 years of climate policy, repeatedly threatening to close the division due to lack of government support.