See how we are supporting renewable energy production and helping businesses switch to renewables.
The benefits for your business
Join the rush of businesses turning to renewable electricity. Benefits include:
- Lower power prices
- Long term price certainty
- Taking control of power supply through generating power on-site
- Supporting projects to create new renewable generation
- Supporting sustainability goals and promotion of your business
Make the move to procure renewable electricity for your business, either through rooftop solar to reduce electricity bills, purchasing large scale renewable generation certificates (LGC’s) in the market or signing a renewable power purchase agreement to drive new renewables generation and displacement of fossil fuels from the grid.
Renewable electricity is a constantly evolving space. The list of options below is not definitive but may assist you in working out the best option. The technology improvements and mass take up is also bringing costs down, many things that weren’t viable two years ago are viable now or will be shortly.
Rooftop solar is a great way to reduce your energy bills whilst also reducing your carbon footprint.
We have partnered with Solar Savers, a not-for-profit organisation, to make solar easier, more affordable and reliable for businesses. Contact Solar Savers for free advice and a quote.
You can also try the free SunSPOT solar calculator to find the sunniest spots for solar on your roof and see your estimated savings.
If you are renting talk to your landlord about the potential for solar.
Smart grid connected battery storage technology is developing rapidly, as are the uses for commercial batteries.
If this is of interest please speak with an electricity advisor, such as Yarra Energy Foundation, about options.
The University of Queensland Battery Trial is demonstrating, combined with appropriate generation and wholesale market contracts, the economics of batteries.
The Clean Energy Council has a list of installers and approved batteries.
Many retailers offer an option to purchase a certain percentage of renewable electricity within their standard mix of electricity plans.
GreenPower is a national government program that enables households and businesses to choose renewable energy through their electricity plan.
You can compare contracts and offers at Victorian Energy Compare.
We are leading the Business Renewables Buying Group to enable large electricity market participants to join together and sign a long term renewable electricity agreement.
The increased scale of joining the group enables greater bargaining power, cost sharing and knowledge sharing to make the whole process easier, more affordable and suitable for more businesses.
Large Scale Generation Certificates (LGCs) are readily available for purchase on the Australian Electricity market.
LGCs are generated when a large-scale renewable generator produces a megawatt of electricity for sale in the Australian market.
By purchasing the LGC you pay the generator directly for the renewable electricity they have produced, this gives you ownership of the green electricity, if you then surrender the LGCs you are considered to have Green Power to the equivalent of the volume of LGCs you have bought.
Very large electricity users can enter into a stand-alone Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).
The key benefit of an individual PPA is it gives you full control of the price risk you want to take, the complexity of the deal and if you want to support construction of a new renewable generation asset.
The BRC-A has more resources for those interested in PPA's
An energy audit focusses on actionable measures to reduce energy consumption and energy bills.
There are three levels of energy audits, as detailed by the Energy Efficiency Council with varying costs.
The auditor will recommend energy and cost saving projects for you. Recommendations are costed and the projected savings will be calculated by the energy auditor, along with the expected return on investment.
Sustainability Victoria has more information, including a full list of accredited auditors in Victoria.
Governments regularly provide grants for energy efficiency upgrades.
- View current grants and programs information
- Victorian energy upgrade program provides subsidies for the installation of some energy efficient equipment
Electricity smart meters allow Victorians to access to their electricity consumption data to help make informed decisions, understand consumption, patterns and anomalies and determine the viability of major projects such as solar and/or energy storage.
The data can be accessed via user-friendly portals offered by some retailers or the network provider in your area (CitiPower or Jemena in the Yarra).
Sustainability Victoria has an overview of some of the types of finance offered.