14 hours Ago By George Heynes
Western Australia and Victoria’s AusNet have provided financial aid to support battery energy storage systems (BESS) in the energy transition and community energy resiliency. As our colleagues at reported yesterday, the Western Australian government allocated AU$16 million (US$9.9 million) in funding to bolster clean energy projects, including solar PV and BESS projects, two of which are being pursued by First Nations people.
AusNet, an electricity transmission network based in Victoria, also revealed an AU$2.4 million investment to support the use of solar PV and BESS units to bolster community energy resiliency in the state. The new Western Australian funding will be allocated to seven projects across the Australian state.
These projects will support efforts to decarbonise with technologies, including green hydrogen and electric vehicles (EVs), batteries, and solar PV. The funding is being granted through the State government’s Clean Energy Future Fund (CEFF), which aims to provide financial support to renewable energy projects aiding the energy transition. Since its inception, the CEFF has undertaken three rounds, with the aforementioned AU$16 million funding encompassed in the third round.
Of this AU$16 million funding, AU$5.5 million has been awarded to two First Nations people-owned projects. This includes a traditional owner-led solar PV and battery project on Banjima land in the Pilbara and a solar PV project on Jinparinya land near Port Hedland.
The Banjima Native Title Aboriginal Corporation has been awarded AU$2.5 million to install 103MW of solar PV and 51.5MWh of battery energy storage systems (BESS) in Central Pilbara.
Meanwhile, Pilbara Solar has been granted AU$3 million to install 10MW of solar PV on land owned by the Jinparinya Aboriginal Community. Other recipients of the funding include BOC Limited, Tesla Geraldaton, Edenlife Communities, Electric Power Conversions Australia, and Pacific Energy, which received AU$3 million, AU$3.5 million, AU$432,750, AU$3 million, and AU$574,000, respectively.
Energy storage featured heavily in the list of successful recipients of the AU$16 million funding. Most of the funding will be allocated to Tesla Geraldton, which plans to convert a 10MW diesel generator at Geraldton Airport to battery energy storage to provide grid services and EV charging. Pacific Energy has also been awarded AU$574,000 to support the development of a 250kW/1MWh .
Elsewhere, AusNet granted AU$2.4 million to 13 organisations under its Energy Resilience Community Fund Major Grants initiative. Five successful initiatives will use solar PV and BESS.
These include Mansfield Shire Council, Nillumbik Shire Council, Cowwarr Football Netball Club, Seaspray Surf Lifesaving Club, and Millgrove Residents Action Group. Mansfield Shire Council has been awarded AU$78,647 to install a generator, solar PV system, and BESS at the Community Hall and Woods Point Museum, enabling these buildings to act as emergency relief centres. Nillumbik Shire Council received AU$265,000 to provide a new generator, battery, and switchboard at its Community Hub.
It is also looking to expand its solar PV and provide plug-in points for mobile generators. Cowwarr Football Netball Club received AU$160,000 for a solar PV upgrade, BESS, and three-phase inverter, enabling it to operate as an Emergency Relief Centre. The Seaspray Surf Lifesaving Club also received AU$302,385 to help fund the installation of a solar PV system and BESS.
The final recipient of the funding is situated in the Yarra Ranges Shire. The Millgrove Residents Action Group received AU$277,115 for solar PV, BESS and an inverter for community infrastructure at the Millwarra Primary School and Millwarra Community Hall..
