Victorian Government Announces NEJF Round And Microgrid Initiative

Image: Victorian Government

More funding is being made available to assist Victoria towards its goal of 40 percent renewable energy by 2025.

Round three of the Victorian New Energy Jobs Fund program is offering grants of between $20,000 and $1 million for projects that encourage uptake of renewables, slash emissions and generate employment. Total funding available in this round is $3 million.

The first round of NEJF resulted in 24 successful projects and funding of $5.9 million. Round two saw 21 projects funded a total of $6.8 million.

Some of the previous recipients of grants include:

• Australian Wind & Solar – to assist in boosting production of its hot water diverter device.
• Geelong Sustainability – kickstart funding for a community solar power investment model.
• Moreland City Council – fuelling waste trucks with hydrogen extracted using wind and solar power.
• SEA Electric – development of a commercial electric vehicle manufacturing facility.

The New Energy Jobs Fund is part of the $200 million Future Industries Fund, which identifies six priority sectors, including new energy technologies, with the potential for significant economic growth and to create high-skill, well-paying jobs in the state.

Microgrid Initiative

Also announced yesterday by the Victorian Government was its $10 million Microgrid Demonstration Initiative. Grants of between $100,000 and $5 million will be provided for microgrid demonstration projects, with view to unlocking clean energy microgrid markets in the state.

A microgrid is a local network of electricity generation sources and energy storage connected to the mains grid that can also operate disconnected from it, continuing electricity supply in a local area.

The initial Expression of Interest process will be followed by a Request for Proposal in 2018. In total, the Victorian Government will contribute up to $15.8 million over four years to develop and implement microgrid demonstration projects across the state.

“Through initiatives like the New Energy Jobs Fund and the microgrid project, we’re helping create new jobs and improve our renewable energy capabilities,” said Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio.

Documents and forms related to both the new NEJF round and microgrid initiative were yet to be made available at the time of publishing.

Victoria’s renewable energy target (VRET) requires 25 per cent of electricity generated in the state to come from renewables by 2020 and 40 per cent by 2025.