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What is the New Energy Jobs Fund?
The New Energy Jobs Fund is a $20M initiative designed to 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.
The fund is a key component of the $200 million Future Industries Fund to support high growth, high value industries, such as the new energy technologies sector that are critical to securing Victoria’s future as a competitive, innovative and outward looking economy.
Future Industries
The New Energy Jobs Fund is an initiative under the Future Industries Fund supports high growth, as part of the Victorian Government’s Back to Work Plan to create 100,000 jobs and get Victoria back to work.
The Future Industries Fund identifies six sectors which have strong growth potential, including:
- medical technologies and pharmaceuticals;
- new energy technology;
- food and fibre;
- transport, defence and construction technologies;
- international education; and
- professional services.
Background
The Victorian Government has recently commissioned a suite of Regional Renewable Energy Roadmaps to ensure all regions of Victoria benefit from the state’s energy transition.
The New Energy Jobs Fund (NEJF) is overseen by the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change and administered by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP).
In recognition of the capacity and capability constraints often faced by community centric renewable energy groups, successful applicants will also be offered the services of a mentor to assist in the delivery of their project.
Victoria is embracing the benefits of the clean energy transition, including supporting local jobs, lowering energy costs and boosting the economy. The Victorian Government continues to support renewable energy and energy efficiency projects though a sixth round of funding.
Objective
The objective of the New Energy Jobs Fund Round Six is to deliver a broad range of renewable energy and energy efficiency feasibility studies, business cases and implementation-ready capital works projects, driving energy innovation to support Victoria’s transitions to net zero by 2050.
Projects should demonstrate they will support some, or all, of the following considerations:
- increase the uptake of renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions
- create and support renewable energy jobs in Victoria
- where possible, utilise local content i.e. skills and services, to deliver the project
- deliver social, economic, and environmental benefits to communities and businesses in Victoria.
Applicants are encouraged to propose innovative projects that will benefit a broad array of stakeholders, increase energy productivity, and support the adoption and utilisation of renewable energy.
Funding
Up to $1 million is available in grants funding under the New Energy Jobs Fund Round Six. Projects seeking a funding amount of less than $100,000 will be considered more favourably.
Eligible Projects
The New Energy Jobs Fund Round Six will support new renewable energy and energy efficiency projects across Victoria. Applicants must demonstrate that their project will:
- increase or plan to increase the uptake of renewable energy generation or reduce energy consumption
- reduce or plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- use commercially ready renewable energy or energy efficiency technology if implementing a capital works project
- be located in Victoria
- be co-funded by the applicant, and
- be completed by 31 December 2023.
Applicants will be considered favourably where they can evidence that their project will:
- be ready to begin immediately upon execution of a funding agreement
- create or support long-term sustainable jobs
- drive innovation in new energy technologies
- require less than $100,000 in grant funding, and
- be 50% co-funded by the applicant and/or participating organisations.
Eligible Applicants
In addition to meeting the Fund objectives, applicant organisations must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- must operate in Victoria
- must provide evidence of how long it has been in operation to date, and
- must have an Australian Business Number (ABN).
The lead applicant must be one of the following:
- a commercial-for-profit or
- a not-for-profit entity, co-operative, or social enterprise or
- a Victorian local government, or
- a Victorian State Government Public Entity.
Previous recipients of NEJF Rounds One to Five are encouraged to apply.
Timing
Applications close 12 August 2022.
More Information
Government Grant Application Assistance
Call 1300 658 508
New Energy Jobs Fund Round 3 Projects
Projects announced to date include (Further announcements in September 2018):
Regional Renewable Roadmaps – $1 million to develop a suite of Regional Renewable Roadmaps to maximise each regions opportunities to participate in and benefit from Victoria’s energy transition. These roadmaps will be developed by communities for Grampians, Loddon Mallee, Barwon South West and East Gippsland regions.
Delta Energy Systems (Australia) has been awarded $210,000 for its $969,067 project titled ‘Delta Solar Vehicle Charging, seeding a new industry in Victoria’. Delta have been developing PV electric vehicle charging prototypes since 2015 with CSIRO. Focusing on fleet, domestic and light commercial markets. This project is the final stage in the development of this technology, a successful project will bring two new charging platforms to market.
ZECO Australian Energy Solutions has been awarded $150,000 for its $490,000 project ‘Solar Owl’. The project aim is to project aim is to replace diesel light towers. The Solar Owl light towers use solar panels as the source of renewable energy and store them in pollution and maintenance free lithium-ion batteries. These units will be noise free, be more economical and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Rural City of Wangaratta has been awarded $100,000 for their $110,000 project to develop a business case for a micro-grid model for the town of Milawa. It will comprise of solar energy, energy storage and hydrogen fuel cell technology to service all Milawa energy customers.
New Energy Jobs Fund Round 2 Projects
There were 21 successful applicants under the second round of the New Energy Jobs Fund. Projects announced to date include:
| Lead Applicant | Project Description and Category | Grant and Project Value |
|---|---|---|
| RayGen Resources | Industry – Technology This project will include development of a 0.5MW commercial power plant in Newbridge and will support the expansion of the company’s export business. RayGen’s PV Ultra is one of the highest efficiency solar technologies commercially available, utilising technology typically used in space applications. Twenty-two jobs will be created during the design, construction and commissioning of the plant, and a further 3 ongoing jobs post-commissioning. | $1,000,000 $3,800,000 |
| Winton Wetlands Committee | Community Feasibility Study The feasibility study will investigate and articulate the current capital requirements and economic potential of a 10 megawatt solar power plant. The study will identify and address key considerations for the proposed large scale solar renewable energy project including soil type, aspect, drainage and access, native vegetation assessment, indigenous cultural heritage assessment and community engagement and amenity impacts. | $50,000 $60,000 |
| Hepburn Shire Council | Community – Project Implementation Implement a waste to energy system to transform organic waste which would otherwise go to landfill in to a valuable energy resource. The project will reduce disposal and utility costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create jobs in regional Victoria. | $650,000 $2,365,000 |
| Geli Australia | Industry – Manufacturing This project will deliver locally manufactured battery-ready monitoring and control systems in up to 1000 homes across Victoria. Participating households are expected to have their electricity bills reduced by at least 10 percent, while gaining the ability to monitor electricity consumption and solar production in real time, as well as monitor and control battery use. This project is expected to generate up to seven ongoing full-time jobs and more than 80 indirect jobs. | $850,000 $3,180,000 |
| City of Greater Bendigo | Community – Feasibility Study This project will deliver a Feasibility Study on heating and power solutions for regional and rural aquatic centres to improve their environmental and economic sustainability. The outcomes will be relevant to all councils across Victoria as well for the wide range of independent aquatic centre owners and managers. | $45,500 $81,500 |
| City of Greater Bendigo | Community – Business Case This project will deliver a business case for expanding the current City of Greater Bendigo bike share scheme to a total of three locations in Bendigo. The vision is an integrated bike share network scheme linking multiple employers and organisations across Bendigo, reducing car trips and associated emissions. The business case will establish the best solution for delivering this vision. | $83,300 $141,300 |
| Clean Technology Partners | Industry – Technology Solar engineering company Clean Technology Partners, in partnership with Siemens, will develop an ‘e-cube’, a standardised grid connection solution which will facilitate quicker and more cost-efficient connections to Victoria’s power grid. The e-cube will allow solar and wind projects to easily connect to the distribution network and will suit a range of system sizes, connection types, and network requirements. This project will create up to 10 ongoing full-time jobs and up to a further 20 indirect employment opportunities. | $142,000 $569,000 |
ARVIO | Industry – Manufacturing A consortium of five companies, led by innovation company ARVIO. This project will manufacture a solar storage control system and software technology kit in Victoria, rather than using imported equipment and create 20 full-time jobs. The project will see 200 solar storage energy kits installed in residences, buildings and community facilities across Victoria to provide electricity during power outages. | $825,000 $6,170,000 |
New Energy Jobs Fund Round 1 Projects
There were 24 successful applicants under the first round of the New Energy Jobs Fund (NEJF). Successful applicants announced to date include:
- Hepburn Shire Council – $50,000 to support the development of a final business case for a micro-waste to energy power station.
- SEA Automotive – $516,720 to support its work producing electric powered commercial vehicles.
- Wodonga City Council – $80,000 to fund a community solar project.
- Euroa Environment Group – $50,000 to fund the Strathbogie – Seymour Energy Alliance Pumped Hydroelectric Energy Storage business case.
- Goulburn Valley Community Energy – $50,000 to fund the Tatura Energy Future project.
- Wangaratta Government Centre – $100,000 to fund a study for a clean energy project.
- Waranga Green Energy – $1M to fund a self-sustaining mixed agriculture bio-energy project – which will construct a bio-digester that can process up to 200 tonnes per day of agricultural waste to generate renewable heat and power.
- RayGen Resources – more than $1M funding to support the design, construction and manufacture of a new automated production line for its world-leading solar technology.
- MIL-Systems – $180,000 to help the company manufacture its innovative Reactive Power Control (RPC) solar inverter.
- GreenSync – $554,886 to support its digital control platform, which co-ordinates and optimises renewables connected to the grid.
- South East Councils Climate Change Alliance (SECCA) – $330,000 to support its work in providing energy efficient housing in Victoria.
Other successful projects will be announced in the coming weeks.
Media Release
Electric vehicles in Victoria could soon be running on solar thanks to a new research partnership and a funding boost from the Andrews Labor Government.
A new partnership between Delta Electronics, Nissan and CSIRO has started trialling solar smart technology electric vehicle chargers that are compatible with all electric vehicles currently on the market.
Delta Electronics has received $210,000 from the third round of the New Energy Jobs Fund to help further test and fine tune these next generation electric vehicle charging systems, which also include battery storage, in real-world applications.
The technology has been developed by Delta Electronics and CSIRO and the trials, run in partnership with Nissan, will test both fast and slow charging scenarios relevant to a range of Australian electricity grid and environmental conditions, particularly in regional and rural areas.
The commercial field trials are the final stage of this new technology’s development. Once commercially ready, the new technology will bring two charging platforms to the market.
The New Energy Jobs Fund supports growth in the uptake of renewable energy generation, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, driving innovation in new energy technologies, and assists community groups to develop renewable energy projects.
The Government is putting more clean energy into the grid, increasing investment and driving down energy prices as part of its commitment to increase Victoria’s Renewable Energy Target (VRET) to 50 per cent by 2030.
As noted by Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio
“We know we need to reduce emissions in the transport sector and one of the best ways we can do that is to support partnerships like this one.”
“By encouraging electric vehicle take up, we reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality and increase job opportunities in Victoria.”
“This battery smart storage platform means electric vehicle drivers can travel more confidently and enjoy the drive.”
