Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio has opened the 100 Neighbourhood Batteries Program and announced successful recipients of neighbourhood batteries in the third round of the $10.92 million Neighbourhood Battery Initiative (NBI).
Round three of the NBI funded nine projects, including eight business cases and the Alphington Community Battery project, which is now ready for implementation.
“The Alphington community is embracing solar technology and this new battery will take it to a whole new level, with renewable energy shared amongst neighbours, lowering bills and cutting emissions,” Member for Northcote Kat Theophanous stated.
The battery, delivered in collaboration with Darebin Council by community-owned social company Village Power, will have 300kWh of storage capacity and can supply about 100 households with solar panels.
Meanwhile, the Victorian Government’s $42.2 million 100 Neighbourhood Battery Program’s first round of grants is now open, with funds available to public organisations, private businesses and agencies, educational institutions, local government, co-operatives, and not-for-profit groups.
“We’re investing in even more batteries through the 100 Neighbourhood Batteries Program – unlocking more rooftop solar generation and spreading the benefits of local renewable energy even further,” Minister D’Ambrosio said.
The first round of neighbourhood batteries will receive $10 million in funding, with project financing of up to $300,000 available per battery.
So far, 29 local government areas have received neighbourhood batteries as part of the program.
The State Government added that neighbourhood batteries are a critical step towards meeting the State’s renewable energy storage targets of 2.6 GW by 2030 and 6.3 GW by 2035 — enough renewable energy to power roughly half of Victoria’s current homes at peak energy use while reducing emissions by 75-80% by 2035.
