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What is a renewable energy zone?
Renewable energy zones are areas identified as the best places to host wind, solar and battery storage projects and are central to our transition away from coal to renewable energy.
Renewable energy zones will:
- Help coordinate renewable energy projects and reduce the need for unnecessary transmission infrastructure
- Enable VicGrid to set clearer rules around how projects gain access to the grid, including expectations for how developers engage with communities
- Provide more certainty about how and where renewable energy projects are developed
- Unlock new economic benefits for regional communities and Traditional Owners
Where is the proposed Central North Renewable Energy Zone?
The 2025 Victorian Transmission Plan proposed a renewable energy zone with two sections in central north Victoria. The western section would run between Bendigo and Tatura, and the eastern section between Shepparton and Glenrowan.
Renewable energy zones are areas identified as the best places to host wind, solar and battery storage projects. The proposed Central North Renewable Energy Zone is in a location with access to solar and wind energy that can provide flexibility in supporting Victoria’s overall energy mix.
This zone has not been formally declared and there will be more opportunities for consultation with community, industry and Traditional Owners.
The zone covers parts of the Campaspe, Greater Shepparton, Benalla and City of Greater Bendigo local government areas.
The proposed zone has two sections – a western section between Bendigo and Tatura along the existing 220 kilovolt (kV) transmission line from Fosterville to Shepparton and an eastern section between Shepparton and Glenrowan.
The western section is within the boundaries of Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation and Taungurung Land and Waters Council. The eastern section is within the boundaries of Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation.
The proposed Central North Renewable Energy Zone predominantly avoids the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District, overlapping a small part in the east. There are a number of sensitive wetlands, waterways and parks nearby or inside the zone that will require further consideration by individual project proponents.
Map of the proposed Central North Renewable Energy Zone
Visit our online interactive map to see the renewable energy zones in more detail.
How has feedback shaped the proposed Central North Renewable Energy Zone?
We carefully considered all feedback, but not all community or industry requests have been acted on.
The 2025 Victorian Transmission Plan and the renewable energy zone declarations reflect difficult choices, made by weighing up many factors to deliver a plan that best serves all Victorians. These decisions balance energy needs, land use, environmental impacts and community concerns.
What we did in response to feedback:
- Avoided as much irrigated farmland as possible along the northern boundary in the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District and other agricultural land. For farmland that is located within the proposed zone, minimising the impacts will be an important consideration of any future projects as they are developed
- Considered flood risks, particularly in the north of the draft proposed renewable energy zone. These will require further project-level assessments
- Avoided areas near Shepparton that have a relatively high rural dwelling density
- Removed a large portion of the draft proposed zone to the north-west, given the complex land use constraints
- Added an eastern section to the zone, between Shepparton and Glenrowan, in response to high solar interest in the area
What happens next
To find out more, read the Proposed Central North Renewable Energy Zone factsheet.
Central North remains an area of interest for future renewable energy development. As VicGrid prepares for the 2027 Victorian Transmission Plan, we will continue to consult and consider feedback about the suitability of the proposed Central North Renewable Energy Zone.
We will soon be announcing the timing of another round of consultation to identify any significant new information that we may have missed in making our decisions, as we firm up the boundaries of the zone.
Page last updated: 29/05/26
