Australia, Policy, Renewables, Solar

$100m splash out on energy upgrades

The Federal Government announced on 21 December 2023 the opening of the first round of the $100 million Community Energy Upgrades Fund.

The fund aims to facilitate energy upgrades and reduce energy bills for community facilities like public swimming pools, libraries, sporting clubs, and community centres for councils nationwide.

Under round one of two, councils throughout Australia are now eligible to apply for co-funding opportunities, with the entire Fund having the potential to unlock over $200 million for impactful upgrades.

The grants offered in this round are specifically designed to assist community facilities in decreasing energy consumption and mitigating the financial burden of utility bills.

Highlighting the widespread impact of the initiative, councils, responsible for thousands of community, cultural, and sporting facilities, cater to the needs of eight million people using community sporting infrastructure annually.

Councils across the country can access one-off grants ranging from $25,000 to $2.5 million, providing them with the means to invest in diverse energy-saving measures.

Some energy-saving examples include the replacement of swimming pool heating systems with electric heat pumps, the integration of battery storage at sporting fields, and the installation of electric vehicle chargers for council fleets.

Interested councils are encouraged to submit round one applications, which will remain open until 30 April 2024.

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