Justin Smith, Managing Director at Ansarada

• New Ansarada report reveals ANZ investment jumps to US$21.2 billion in 2025
• Only 7% of global executives rank Australia and New Zealand as a top region for projected renewable infrastructure growth, the lowest of all regions surveyed
• Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) reforms and acute supply chain pressures are reshaping the local market and moderating short-term momentum

Investment in renewable energy projects across Australia and New Zealand has surged 52% year-on-year, reaching US$21.2 billion in 2025, up from US$13.5 billion in 2024, according to new research from Ansarada, a leading procurement platform. Despite the sharp increase from 2024 to 2025, global senior executives rank the region last for expected near-term growth.

The 2026 Renewable Energy Infrastructure Outlook Report, produced by Ansarada in partnership with Infralogic, surveyed 150 senior executives across APAC, EMEA and the Americas. Only 7% of respondents identified Australia and New Zealand as a top region for increased activity over the next two years.

Justin Smith, Managing Director at Ansarada, said the data reflects a market in transition rather than one falling behind its global peers.

“The Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) model is fundamentally changing how risk is allocated,” Smith said. “By capping zone capacity and centralising transmission, REZs are shifting curtailment risk away from private financiers. That allows procurement timelines to align with confirmed network approvals, rather than forcing projects to market before connection pathways are confirmed.”

Supply chain pressures are compounding challenges. The report highlights that large-scale equipment orders in Australia can face lead times of up to 36 months, and transporting major infrastructure like turbine blades to remote sites often involves journeys of over 500 kilometres.

Globally, renewable energy investment reached US$496 billion in 2025. With over US$500 billion in AI infrastructure capital expenditure projected for 2026 and US data centre energy consumption forecast to hit 409 TWh by 2030, 37% of respondents view surging energy demand as the critical driver for new renewable energy infrastructure development.

Australia is emerging as a key testbed for this growth. In late 2025, the New South Wales Government approved a US$3.1 billion CDC Data Centre campus at Marsden Park, the largest project of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. With 504 MW capacity, the site is designed to operate with nearly 99% renewable energy by 2030, serving as a blueprint for other APAC hubs.

Smith said, “AI compute demand is accelerating the need for large-scale, reliable renewable generation, but what’s changed is that it’s no longer just about adding megawatts. It’s about integrating generation, transmission and storage into dispatchable systems that can maintain grid stability.”

Despite widespread technology adoption, the report exposes critical weaknesses in the procurement process. While 91% use purpose-built procurement software, organisations deploy an average of 3-4 disconnected systems, and 55% still rely on email for sensitive bidder correspondence.

About the Research

The 2026 Renewable Energy Infrastructure Procurement Report surveyed 150 senior executives in late 2025, including 51 government agencies, 54 privately-owned developers, and 45 transaction advisories across APAC, EMEA and the Americas.

About Ansarada

Ansarada is a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform that delivers secure, purpose-built software solutions for managing critical strategic projects such as M&A, capital raising, restructures, and infrastructure procurement. Our platform goes beyond a typical virtual data room (VDR), offering advanced security, seamless collaboration, and intuitive workflows for teams both within and across organisations. Trusted by advisors and corporates worldwide, Ansarada supports the entire deal and procurement lifecycle-streamlining processes, all while ensuring compliance with global regulations. Ansarada empowers businesses to achieve their critical outcomes with confidence.

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