The 100 Neighbourhood Batteries Program provides grants to support the installation of 100 neighbourhood-scale batteries to improve energy reliability and provide energy storage capacity for locally generated solar power, which is expected to increase access to renewable energy and help lower energy bills.

The program builds on lessons learned through the successful Neighbourhood Battery Initiative (NBI) and paves the way for a new generation of energy storage to benefit local communities.

Objectives

The Victorian Government is funding these grants to achieve the following outcomes and objectives:

• benefits from local renewable energy and energy storage are passed on to consumers, including lowering household energy bills
• increased energy reliability
• reduced costs of network upgrades
• communities feel they are personally contributing to Victoria’s energy transition
• scale up the delivery of operational models for neighbourhood-scale batteries.

Round 2 of the 100 Neighbourhood Batteries Program makes available total program funding of up to $15 million, with up to $400,000 project funding available per battery.

Projects must be completed by 31 August 2026 with preferred delivery within FY2025-2026.

Under Round 1 of the 100NB program the following projects are eligible for funding:

Stream 1 - Delivering network and community benefits - see application form here

Funding (of up to $400,000 per battery) will be provided for project(s) that:

• implement one or more neighbourhood battery(s) (including installation and commissioning)
• demonstrate quantified benefits for both the electricity network and local electricity consumers
• include a minimum 30 per cent cash co-contribution
• each battery must be a chemical battery of a minimum size 20kW/40kWh and maximum 5MW/20MWh
• will complete project delivery by 31 August 2026.

Stream 2 - Delivering community benefits - see application form here

Funding (of up to $400,000 per battery) will be provided for project(s) that:

• implement one or more neighbourhood batteries - see application form here
• quantify benefits for the local community
• include a cash co-contribution of at least 10% of the requested grant amount
• each battery must be a chemical battery of a minimum size 20kW/40kWh and maximum 5MW/20MWh
• will complete project delivery by 31 August 2026.

Stream 3 - Delivering energy resilience

Funding (of up to $400,000 per energy back-up system) will be provided for projects that:

• implement one or more energy back-up system/s that will be capable of continuing to supply power to one or more publicly accessible building/s during grid outages. Each energy back-up system must include an eligible neighbourhood battery and may also include installation of any or all of the following: solar photovoltaics (PV), generator and management systems.
• quantify benefits for the local community
• include a cash co-contribution of at least 5% of the requested grant amount
• each battery must be a chemical battery of a minimum size 20kW/40kWh and maximum 5MW/20MWh
• will complete project delivery by 31 August 2026.

The following organisations and individuals can apply for funding:

• public entities
• private sector businesses and agencies
• educational institutions
• local government authorities
• co-operatives
• not for profit organisations.

In addition, to be eligible for funding applicants must:

• be an incorporated body, co-operative or association (including business associations)
• be financially solvent.

The following organisations and individuals cannot apply for funding:

• individuals
• government departments and administrative offices.

Distribution network service providers are not eligible to apply for funding under Stream 3.

• Email: neighbourhood.batteries@delwp.vic.gov.au