The Government of New South Wales has begun consultations for its first urban Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) in the Illawarra region, with partial delivery planned by 2030. EnergyCo, which is a Sydney-based agency responsible for REZ implementation, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Endeavour Energy, a New South Wales-based electricity distributor, to examine battery storage and grid innovation. A roundtable was held in Wollongong and has brought together representatives from industry, unions, and the community to discuss early-stage implementation. According to EnergyCo, the REZ is intended to integrate rooftop solar, small-scale batteries, and underused public infrastructure to reduce environmental and social impacts. Illawarra was chosen due to its existing energy, port, and transport infrastructure, and because it has a skilled workforce. The REZ is expected to lower wholesale electricity prices by clustering renewables and replacing coal-fired power generation.