Swan Hill Rural City Council
Swan Hill Rural City Council will be a key partner in an exciting new project to develop an investment-ready business case for a community battery within the municipality.
The ‘Regional Greenhouse Alliance Neighbourhood Battery Investigation Project’ was one of nine projects to be awarded funding through the Victorian Government’s Neighbourhood Battery Initiative – Round 3 announced by Minister D’Ambrosio on Monday, 28 August.
The project, led by the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance, Goulburn Murray Climate Alliance, and Gippsland Alliance for Climate Action, in partnership with Indigo Power, will develop the business case for a single community battery site within Swan Hill Rural City Council along with 17 other local government areas across regional Victoria.
“The Greenhouse Alliances are delighted to be working with 18 councils across regional Victoria on this exciting project. The project will plan community batteries at sites servicing a high value community need, such as emergency shelters, places of last resort, and other critical community facilities, with a focus on exploring how to maximise benefits at different community sites”, said Annika Kearton, Chief Executive Officer of the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance.
Council’s Director Development and Planning, Heather Green said Swan Hill Rural City Council was committed to the environment and taking positive steps forward in the creation of a more sustainable future for our community.
“Neighbourhood batteries are a vital step towards meeting our nation-leading renewable energy storage targets.
Neighbourhood batteries soak up cheap renewable energy when it is plentiful and dispatch it when it is needed most. There are many benefits to renewable energy being shared amongst neighbours including lowering bills and cutting emissions,’ Ms Green said.
Council extends their thanks the Victorian Government for supporting this innovative regional project which will run from September 2023 to August 2024.
