Funding has been handed over by Sustainability Victoria to assist Ballarat Renewable Energy and Zero Emissions in operating the Ballarat Pilot Community Power Hub.
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The confirmation of funding was made by the Victorian Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio in Bendigo on July 19.
The hubs at Ballarat, Bendigo and LaTrobe Valley, backed by $900,000 in government funding, which was announced in April, will be set up in the coming weeks.
They will be at the forefront of development of renewable energy projects that may include solar, wind, hydro and bioenergy.
“The objective is to work as a catalyst to scope Community renewable energy projects in the Ballarat Region,” BREASE president Ian Rossiter said.
“We already have some project ideas to share with potential partners which include the supply of solar panels to social housing, use of biomass heaters for community facilities, establishment of a community owned electricity cooperative and biodigesters on farms to process liquid agricultural wastes.”
Over the next few weeks, BREAZE will be finalising the governance arrangements for the two year funded project.
It aims to have a virtual office presence by early August, and conduct community information sessions and workshops in Ballarat, Beaufort, Daylesford and Ballan in September.
“The Community Power Hub will be able to draw on resources from state government, existing renewable energy networks and overseas experience to develop feasibility studies, business cases and assist these projects find funding avenues,” Mr Rossiter said. “Community Renewable energy will play an important part in delivering the Victorian Government's Renewable Energy Target of 40% of our power by 2025.
Renewable energy projects can often be established in a much quicker time frame than large wind, solar and Bioenergy projects and generally are compatible with existing grid infrastructure.”