Community Renewables, Hydrogen Get A Boost In Victoria

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The Victorian Government issued several energy-related announcements yesterday relating to community renewables, a new hydrogen program and simplifying comparing energy deals.

Community Renewables Grants

$1.1 million in grants to support nine community renewable energy projects across the state were announced on Tuesday. The grants will be issued from the Renewable Communities Program, which is part of the government’s New Energy Jobs Fund.

The projects:

• Yackandandah Public Virtual Power Plant (VPP – solar PV and battery systems) – $103,788.
• Hepburn Wind Community Solar Farm (3MW solar) – $500,000.
• Skipton Hospital Straw Heating (replace LPG heating with straw pellet fuelled heating) – $273,662.
• Powered for Life (10kW solar array for Uniting Ballarat’s ‘Restore’ Op Shop) – $7,728.
• The North East Solar Benefits program (solar energy systems on ten social housing homes) – $54,256.
• Proudly Renewable Powered Disability Services (40kW solar PV for McCallum Disability Services) – $49,500.
• Mirboo North Hall Precinct Project (82.5kW solar PV installed on four buildings) – $88,000.
• Helped by Solar (6kW solar power system for Coghill’s Creek Progress Association hall) – $6,363.
• 24kW solar panel installation for Stony Creek Racecourse & Recreation Reserve – $56,000.

More on each of the projects can be viewed here.

“We’re giving local communities the tools they need to drive down energy costs and emissions,” said Victorian Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio. “Community-owned renewable projects are part of our plan to transition Victoria’s energy system to a low-carbon future.”

Victorian Hydrogen Investment Program

Also announced yesterday was a $2 million initiative to support the development of clean hydrogen energy technologies in the state.

The Victorian Hydrogen Investment Program will fund research and trials looking into ways to utilise the state’s increasing renewable energy resources and natural gas pipeline infrastructure. Before any cash is thrown about, the government will kick off a Request for Industry Submission process, which starts today.

“Hydrogen fuel technologies can help boost local jobs in Victoria while helping us to tackle climate change,” said Minister D’Ambrosio. “We’re investing in this emerging industry so that Victoria is at forefront of the transition to clean energy.”

Thankfully, coal to hydrogen shouldn’t get anywhere near this program.

Energy Plan Fact Sheets

Finally, the Victorian Government has supported the Essential Services Commission’s (ESC) proposed new rules to make it a simpler task to compare energy deals. Among these is a “fact sheet” provided by retailers that enables households to compare energy plans based on the same information for each plan. The fact sheets will indicate the expected average yearly cost for a number of typical customer households.

The ESC proposes the form and content of the fact sheet to be based on the requirements of the Australian Energy Regulator’s (AER) energy fact sheets, which provide a summarised overview of the following:

• estimated annual cost for a 1,2,3,4 and 5+ person household
• plan features
• fees and charges
• discounts
• contract length
• retailer contact details

The proposed new rules will also make it easier for customers to provide a self-read of their meter to electricity retailers.

More on the ESC’s draft decision can be viewed here.