Community Energy 

Community energy offers a model for ensuring that everyday people can access the full benefits of the renewable energy boom that is already underway in regional Australia. When communities are involved in renewable projects, they deliver economical, social and community benefits locally.

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This appendix details the benefits of community energy identified through our community co-design process.

 

While there is no universal definition of community energy, in the Local Power Plan, we define it simply as: 'where a community develops, owns or benefits from a renewable energy project.'

 

Different communities will develop community energy projects in different ways. But in essence, community energy is about

building renewables, and making sure everyday people benefit, either through part ownership, or accessing cheap, clean electricity. Everyday Australians have already shown us community energy works.

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The appendix details the opportunities to accelerate community energy identified in our community co-design process.

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Right now, all across Australia, there are more than 100 community energy groups – organisations made up of everyday people who develop community energy projects.

 

A community energy group might be —

• a group of volunteers raising money to install a solar panel on the local school;

• a social enterprise providing low-interest loans to low-income households to upgrade their energy efficiency;

• a local Landcare or Rotary Club running small projects like installing a small battery in their town; or

• a not-for-profit raising money through donations to finance a business case for a mid-scale solar farm.

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For more information visit the Coalition for Community Energy and the Community Power Agency.