Community Energy Upgrades Fund Recipients Announced

58 local governments across Australia have shared in $50 million in federal grants for projects improving the energy efficiency of community buildings and infrastructure through solar, batteries and electrification.

The grants are from Round 1 of the Community Energy Upgrades Fund (CEUF), which closed to new applications in April last year – so it’s taken a while for the all the winners to become grinners.

The grants ranged from $30,690 for solar power and battery storage at Port Broughton’s Council Depot and SES station (SA) to eight projects scoring $2.5 million each. The CEUF funds cover up to half of project costs.

Example projects in each state:

• New South Wales: Solar power upgrades and a heat pump for the swim centre in Leeton Shire (Leeton Shire Council – $203,006)
• Northern Territory: Energy efficiency upgrades for West Lane car park, Parap Pool and Casuarina Library (City of Darwin – $221,872)
• Queensland: Brisbane community energy upgrade project (Brisbane City Council – $2,422,423)
• South Australia: Street lighting LED changeover (Rural City of Murray Bridge – $374,000)
• Tasmania: Chargers to support electrifying Council’s EV fleet. (Clarence City Council – $84,983)
• Victoria: Monbulk Aquatic Centre gas transition (Yarra Ranges Shire Council – $1,970,000)
• Western Australia: Solar and battery installations for 5 community buildings (Town of Port Hedland – $240,350)

The big-ticket recipients ($2.5 million each) are:

• Broken Hill City Council (NSW): Broken Hill solar integration project.
• Wagga Wagga City Council (NSW): Oasis Regional Aquatic Centre (ORAC – pictured above) community energy upgrade project.
• Ballarat City Council (VIC): Ballarat Aquatic and Lifestyle Centre: BIG (their capitalisation, not mine) eco-friendly heat pump installation.
• City of Maribyrnong (VIC): Maribyrnong Aquatic Centre electrification and energy efficiency upgrade.
• Glen Eira City Council (VIC): Electrification of Glen Eira Sports and Aquatic Centre (GESAC).
• Melbourne City Council (VIC): City of Melbourne gas-free operations.
• Mildura Rural City Council (VIC): Electrifying Mildura Rural City.
• Yarra City Council (VIC): Powering Waves of Innovation: Demonstrating Aquatic Centre Electrification.

While these are grants, recipients will be expected to share knowledge from their projects for local government and community benefit. A full list of recipients and their projects can be found here.

A couple of common themes in the second list – Victoria and aquatic centres. It’s not surprising given these facilities are energy-intensive, and often the highest energy-consuming assets local councils maintain. Victoria’s cooling love affair with gas has likely played also role. While the state has the highest use of fossil gas for heating, hot water and cooking in Australia, it is getting more expensive and supplies are supposedly dwindling (because Australia exports so much of it overseas).

On a related note, the Victorian Government is mulling over phasing out gas in homes and commercial buildings, and constructing all new government buildings as all-electric to ease gas reliance and cut emissions.

$50 Million Gone, $50 Million To Go

Round 2 of the CEUF is expected to open soon with another $50 million in grants available – and at this stage, it will be the final round. Local governments that applied but did not receive funding in Round 1 are encouraged to apply again in Round 2. But those that scored a guernsey in Round 1 can’t double-dip.

About The Community Energy Upgrades Fund

The CEUF is part of the Albanese Government’s $1.6 billion-plus Energy Savings Package announced in Budget 2023/24 to help households, businesses and community facilities improve energy efficiency and save money.

“Local councils run many of the sport and public facilities that keep our communities and clubs thriving,” said Federal Minister for Energy and Climate Change Chris Bowen yesterday. “We want facilities that Australians know and love, like cricket grounds and local pools, to be able to save on their energy bills and spend more on the things they do best.”

The Business Grants Hub, which is part of the Department of Industry, Science and Resources, administers the Community Energy Upgrades Fund on behalf of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

More information on the CEUF can be found here.