Businesses supported to use renewable energy

MORE support is available for Ballarat businesses hoping to reduce their emissions and costs with two programs on offer.

The Business Renewable Buyers Group and Ballarat Energy Network programs are helping owners move to 100 per cent renewable energy.

More than 50 Local Government Areas have come together to form the Business Renewables Buyers Group which is designed to help organisations find better renewable deals.

The group is backed by a facilitator who has experience purchasing renewable energy and it is hoped the initiative will reduce barriers to making the switch.

Businesses that consume more than 5000MWh of electricity each year qualify to use the initiative.

The Committee of Ballarat recently launched the Ballarat Energy Network which complements this initiative.

This project uses 100 per cent locally generated renewable energy.

“To achieve energy resilience for regional communities like ours, the grid must evolve to maximise the capability of distributed generation assets like roof top solar and storage systems,” said Committee for Ballarat CEO, Michael Poulton.

“These will play an increasingly significant role as business, industry and the community in our region transition to an economy driven by 100 per cent renewable energy.”

Mayor Cr Des Hudson encouraged local businesses to get involved with both programs.

“Ballarat and regional businesses now have more ways to embrace renewable energy with two great initiatives providing more choice and opportunity,” he said.

In 2022, the City of Ballarat council adopted the Ballarat Net Zero Emissions plan which aimed for the community to reach net zero emissions by 2030.