New funding to help communities change to renewable energy
Our new funding will support not-for-profit organisations and social enterprises to work with their communities to implement renewable energy projects. This will contribute to meeting Victoria’s target of zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Bringing communities together
We will be delivering a total of $3.37 million in grant funding to the Community Power Hubs program over the next one and a half years. Grant recipients will receive the resources, expertise and start-up funding needed to successfully develop, support and implement community energy projects across their region.
Implementing solar arrays, bulk buy solar panels and solar streetlight installations in community facilities and households are among some of the projects that could be considered.
The program will directly benefit communities by:
- ensuring greater control over energy
- reducing energy costs
- creating greater energy self-reliance
- generating income and building awareness of renewable energy.
Community Power Hubs will be supported across Victoria including one metropolitan and up to 5 in either the Barwon South West, Gippsland, Grampians, Hume and Loddon Mallee regions.
These Community Power Hubs will be an important platform for communities in Victoria in moving towards a renewable energy system.
Victoria’s transition to renewable energy
Funding for this program follows the success of our Community Power Hub Pilot program 2017-2020, which:
- implemented solar power projects in community facilities and households
- grew Victoria’s renewable energy capacity
- saved communities thousands in energy costs.
This expanded program aims to deliver similarly positive outcomes to Victorian communities. Working at the grass roots level to empower our local communities with the knowledge and support they need is crucial if Victorians are to make the transition to a low carbon, clean energy future.
Applications close 31 March 2021. An information session will be held on 10 March at 10:00 am.
For more information, view the Community Power Hubs grant page.