Gippsland Getting Solar Funding

Gippsland solar PV projects | Image : Public Domain

Victoria’s Government via the Latrobe Valley Authority is providing funds for a solar power system installation at Yarram Recreation Reserve and other PV projects.

Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio announced the $24,375 grant from the Latrobe Valley Authority’s $20 million Community Facility Fund on Friday.

93 solar panels will be installed on clubrooms at the reserve, which are used by a number of  non-profit organisations and sporting clubs in the area.

“It’s wonderful to visit Yarram to announce this grant – a practical initiative that will cut costs for the local clubs,” said Minister D’Ambrosio.

The solar power system is to be installed by local company Gippsland Solar, which has racked up more than 1,300 solar PV and 1,025 solar hot water system installations across its service area.

The Community Facility Fund supports projects that improve the amenity and liveability of the LaTrobe Valley region.  The Fund provides grants for Community Space Upgrades of up to $50,000 and up to $1 million for Town Infrastructure and Major Projects.

Situated approximately 221 kilometres east of Melbourne, Yarram is primarily a timber and dairy town that also acts as a service centre for coastal towns in Gippsland.

According to recent data from Australia’s Clean Energy Regulator, Yaram’s postcode (3971) is home to 449 solar PV installs, with a collective capacity of 1,460kW. With approximately 4,000 people living in the postcode area; that works out to around 370 watts of solar capacity per person.

More Solar And Proposed Offshore Wind Farm For Gippsland

In other recent news from the Gippsland region, 150 renewable energy and new energy technology stakeholders participated in a roundtable last week to discuss boosting jobs and economic growth in the region. As part of that event, Minister D’Ambrosio announced the release of a consultation paper to inform a Latrobe Valley New Energy Jobs and Investment Prospectus.

The consultation paper can be downloaded here (PDF). Submissions close on July 14.

A potential project presented at the New Energy Technology Roundtable was the ambitious $8 billion Star Of The South Energy Project; a  2GW, 250- turbine wind facility proposed for off the coast of Gippsland by Melbourne’s Offshore Energy.

The Victorian Government is also calling for tenders in relation to the roll-out of the Latrobe Valley Home Energy Upgrades program. The $5 million program will provide grants of up to up to $4,500 to 1,000 vulnerable households for renewable energy, including solar PV and hot water, and energy efficiency upgrades.

Another $2 million will go towards supporting rooftop solar panels on 30 schools and public buildings over the next two years.

In addition to assisting households and schools save on electricity costs, the program is expected to create a significant number of jobs.