Far South Coast Community Solar and Battery Grant Program

Owners of buildings and facilities used by community groups in the Bega Valley and parts of the Eurobodalla Shire Council areas can apply for the grants. 

These include: 

• councils 

• not-for-profit organisations, charities, and philanthropic organisations   

• local Aboriginal Land Councils 

• state government agencies may be considered eligible applicants when projects will deliver a clear public benefit. 

The owner will need to provide proof of a partnership with at least one community group which will benefit from the proposed project. 

Examples of buildings and facilities that could be eligible include, but are not limited to: 

• community sports clubs 

• scout or guide halls 

• surf lifesaving clubs 

• welfare centres 

• Men’s Sheds 

• Women’s Sheds 

• community centres 

• showgrounds 

• community owned childcare centres. 

• aged care facilities 

• school halls. 

Location that are eligible include Bega Valley, Eurobodalla

The grant funds the installation of solar and battery technologies for community infrastructure.  The following equipment is eligible for funding under the grant: 

• solar systems 

• batteries 

• equipment for building infrastructure that supports new solar and battery installations. 

The project should be started by 15 May 2025 and the project must be completed by 30 June 2026.

The grants will be available for new solar systems, a battery system, or both. The cost of your project must be between $10,000 to $1,000,000.  

We will consider proposals for solar and or batteries on facilities other than buildings if applicants can prove their proposal meets eligibility and merit criteria. These cases will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.  

Eligible building and facility owners can apply for additional solar and or batteries to supplement an existing system. However, the grant funding cannot be used to replace any existing systems. 

Applicants will need to demonstrate how the project will benefit the Far South Coast community through: 

• lower energy costs 

• reduced emissions 

• increased resilience 

• supporting local businesses.

Each grant application will be assessed on its merit. 

Funding will cover the cost of purchasing and installing the solar and battery assets. However, it will not pay for ongoing maintenance of these assets.   

You do not need to contribute funding to be eligible. However, applicants applying for this funding may seek additional funding from other grant programs available from local, state, and federal government, including grants from Commonwealth initiatives such as the Australian Renewable Energy Agency. 

You will be required to provide at least one quote from an accredited and licenced installer that will show the estimated reduction in energy costs. You will also be required to demonstrate how you will pass these savings on to the community groups that use your facility.   

You will also be required to provide at least one quote from an accredited and licenced installer that will show the estimated reduction in carbon emissions. 

You will need to describe how the addition of solar and/or battery storage to your facility could help the community during an emergency. This could include a description of how the back-up power can be used to bring the community together, to provide shelter to the community, or enable the facility to be used as a storage and distribution point for emergency services.    

In addition to answering the eligibility and merit assessment criteria, applicants must provide: 

• any existing quotes for the installation of solar and battery assets 

• the estimated costing and budget items for the proposed project 

• letters of support from community groups 

• proof of Landowner’s Consent (if applicable) 

• any documents that support the merit assessment criteria, including estimations in energy bill and emissions reductions, emergency preparedness and how your project will support local businesses.