New Energy Jobs Fund grant recipients announced

The Victorian Government has confirmed the first group of successful recipients of its New Energy Jobs Fund grants.

The $20 million fund will support Victorian-based projects that create long-term sustainable jobs, increase the uptake of renewable energy generation, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and drive innovation in new energy technologies. Funding to support new energy technology projects will be available through three annual grant rounds.

There were 24 successful applicants under the first round of the New Energy Jobs Fund. Five successful projects have been announced so far.

Waranga Green Energy will receive $1 million to construct a biodigester that can process up to 200 tonnes per day of agricultural waste to generate renewable heat and power. The power and heat produced will then be available to power the adjacent piggery, as well as heat a co-located horticultural greenhouse operation with the excess CO₂ used to enhance horticultural growth.

RayGen Resources will receive more than $1 million to support the design, construction and manufacture of a new automated production line for its solar technology. The funding will enable RayGen Resources to undertake manufacturing improvements to its module technology, creating over 40 new jobs in the process.

MIL-Systems will receive $180,000 to help the company manufacture its innovative Reactive Power Control (RPC) solar inverter, which will control solar electricity, assist with grid stability and allow for a greater number of renewable energy systems to be connected to the grid. The funding will also enable MIL Systems to complete the production engineering for the manufacture of an integrated polymer battery storage module.

Greensync will receive $554,886 to support its digital control platform, which coordinates and optimises renewables connected to the grid. The company’s Community Grids Mornington Peninsula project will involve solar PV, battery storage systems and Demand Response Enabled Device (DRED) units, enabling businesses, households and community centres to reduce and/or shift their energy use during peak demand events such as heatwaves.

Finally, the South East Councils Climate Change Alliance will receive $330,000 to support its work in providing energy-efficient housing in Victoria. The alliance empowers Victorian home owners to work with their builder to construct homes which maximise heating and cooling, while reducing overall energy use.

Other successful projects will be announced in the coming weeks, while the second and third grant rounds are expected to open late 2016 and 2017.