About the Community Solar Banks Program

The Australian Government is investing $100 million into Community Solar Banks. The investment will provide shared solar systems and help to lower electricity costs for more than 25,000 households. This will create a fairer electricity system and reduce emissions.

Many households face barriers to installing their own rooftop solar because they live in apartment buildings, rental accommodation, or they simply can’t afford it. The Australian Government is committed to supporting these households to access the benefits of solar, leading to a more equitable electricity system and reducing emissions.

The Community Solar Banks program is funded by the Australian Government and is partnering with states and territories to deliver this program. Shared community solar banks help households who can’t install their own systems. This will allow more households and communities to benefit from renewable energy.

Grant amount and duration

The First Peoples’ Solar and Storage Initiative makes available total program funding of up to $12.2 million, with up to $700,000 project funding available per project. Grant funding is available to support the successful delivery of solar and battery storage projects and to build capacity in First Peoples’ communities to participate in the energy transition. This includes staffing costs to support project delivery and build capacity within communities.

Projects must be completed by December 2026

Stream 1 – Registered Aboriginal Parties

Stream 1 of the First Peoples’ Solar and Storage Initiative makes grant funding available to Victoria’s 12 formally recognised Registered Aboriginal Parties (RAPs). This funding stream is not allocated through a competitive process, it will be available to all RAPs should they choose to participate in the initiative. Funding is provided to support projects that deliver a range of benefits to Registered Aboriginal Parties and Frist Peoples, for example, improved financial outcomes through reduced energy or operational costs or revenue streams, increased employment, and capacity to deliver services to community or participate in the energy transition.

DEECA will provide project design and support for RAP applicants to develop a robust project scope, budget and delivery plan prior to execution of a funding agreement. All efforts will be made to streamline this process wherever possible to limit the administrative burden on RAPs. Project development, led by the RAP with support from DEECA, is expected to occur from January to June 2025 with funding agreements to be signed by July 2025.

If required, applicants can arrange for a third party organisation to support them and manage funding and project administration on their behalf.

What might be funded?

Guaranteed funding of up to $700,000 is available for each of the 12 RAPs for projects that:

• install one or more neighbourhood batteries and solar PV systems that provide benefits to First Peoples’ of Victoria. This may include:

   o behind or in front of the meter systems

   o projects that reduce operational costs for the RAP

   o projects in partnership with energy retailers, such as developing a First Peoples’ owned generation source coupled to a retail product for the community that provides lower cost energy backed by solar and batteries

   o energy back-up systems that are capable of continuing power supply to a culturally appropriate, accessible location to access during grid outages.

   o Staffing costs to support project delivery and build capacity within communities.

• install a chemical battery of a minimum size 20kW/40kWh and maximum 5MW/20MWh and install a new or expand an existing solar PV system. Projects may install solar only or battery storage only, however this will reduce the total funding available.

• are able to complete a project by December 2026.

Participating Organisation

Applications may also identify one or more project partners as a Participating Organisation(s).

A Participating Organisation means any Company (or other entity) working with the Registered Aboriginal Party on, and/or providing funding to the Recipient for, the Project, other than a Government Funder or a Subcontractor.

Applications should clearly list the name and ABN of each Participating Organisation

Stream 2 – Not-for-profit First Peoples’ organisations

Stream 2 of the First Peoples’ Solar and Storage Initiative makes grant funding available to not-for-profit First

Peoples’ organisations through a competitive grant process.

Who can apply?

The following organisations are eligible to apply for funding:

• Non-formally recognised Traditional Owner Corporations

• Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations

• Aboriginal trusts and cooperatives

• Other non-for-profit First Peoples’ organisations

In addition, to be eligible for funding applicants must:

• be located/based in Victoria

• have an Australian Business Number (ABN).

• be an incorporated body, co-operative or association (including business associations), applicants

who are not incorporated or have an ABN, may arrange for an auspicing organisation to support

them and manage funding and project administration on their behalf.

What might be funded?

Funding of up to $700,000 per system is available for projects that:

• install one or more neighbourhood battery and solar PV system that provides benefits to First Peoples’ of Victoria. This may include:

   o behind or in front of the meter systems

   o projects in partnership with energy retailers, such as developing a First Peoples’ owned generation source coupled to a retail product for the community that provides lower cost energy backed by solar and batteries

   o energy back-up systems that are capable of continuing power supply to a culturally appropriate, accessible location to access during grid outages

   o reduce operational costs for the organisation that will be invested to increase services to First Peoples’ communities.

   o reducing bills for Aboriginal owned community housing (e.g.; with embedded networks to enable shared solar and storage). Household scale solar and battery systems will not be considered for funding, systems must be larger scale, shared solar and/or battery systems.

• Staffing costs to support project delivery and build capacity within communities.

• install a chemical battery of a minimum size 20kW40kWh and maximum 5MW/20MWh and install a new or expand an existing solar PV system. Projects may install solar only or battery storage only, however this will reduce funding to $350,000.

• are ready and suitable for this type of project and will complete project delivery by December 2026.

Participating Organisation

Applications may also identify one or more project partners as a Participating Organisation(s).

A Participating Organisation means any Company (or other entity) working with the Lead Organisation on, and/or providing funding to the Recipient for, the Project, other than a Government Funder or a Subcontractor.

Applications should clearly list the name and ABN of each Participating Organisation.

Applications for more than one battery

Stream 2 applicants seeking funding for installation of more than one battery or energy back up system are encouraged to submit a single application in which the combined funding sought equals no more than the total eligible per project ($700,000) funding. Where projects are seeking funding for multiple batteries, DEECA reserves the right to partially fund projects

Priorities for funding (Stream 2 only)

For projects seeking funding for a solar and battery systems with one or more of the following attributes will be given priority:

• contributing to completed or scheduled works that supports switching from gas to electric appliances in the local community and/or the premises on which the battery is located

• located in network areas with poor reliability, particularly in regional areas where addition of a neighbourhood battery will increase energy reliability

For projects seeking funding for a solar / battery(s) and energy back-up systems projects with one or more of the following attributes will be given priority:

• high incidence of historical electricity outages (both frequency and duration)

• no or limited community accessible or culturally safe powered buildings available during electricity outages

• located in network areas with poor reliability, particularly in regional areas where addition of a neighbourhood battery will increase energy reliability

• vulnerability to extreme weather events likely to impact electricity infrastructure (e.g. storms, bushfires)

DEECA provides no guarantee that any of the projects applied for will be funded following evaluation of applications. No undertaking is given on the amount of individual or total grant monies that will be provided.

Who cannot apply?

The following organisations and individuals cannot apply for funding under either stream:

• non-Aboriginal groups or organisations;

• private individuals;

• local government authorities;

• federal / state government departments or agencies

• for profit businesses.

What will not be funded?

The First Peoples Solar and Storage Initiative will not fund the following activities:

• business as usual costs, including salaries and wages for personnel not employed to support renewable energy activities

• routine or ongoing maintenance activities, including but not limited to, operational and/or maintenance costs of running a neighbourhood battery or solar system

• land acquisition and related expenses

• expenditure on other projects

• projects that have already commenced construction

• the use of any new or hopeful technologies that are lower than Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 9 (See arena.gov.au/assets/2014/02/Technology-Readiness-Levels.pdf)

• feasibility studies or business cases (Stream 2 only)

• activities located outside the State of Victoria

Additional information

Email the Program Team at neighbourhood.batteries@deeca.vic.gov.au

Applicants can submit clarification questions in relation to the application guidelines, the application process and the broader Program to DEECA. Questions must be lodged no later than 5pm Eastern Standard Daylight Savings Time, seven calendar days before applications close.

Any information provided by DEECA in response to any question raised by a potential applicant may be uploaded onto the “Frequently Asked Questions” webpage. Clarification questions can be submitted to neighbourhood.batteries@deeca.vic.gov.au

* Please see document in the link given*