Plan to support Vic's renewable energy

VicGrid has released the Victorian Transmission Plan, responding to feedback from agriculture, environment, community and industry groups, and ongoing engagement with First Nations communities.

The plan outlines details for six renewable energy zones where wind and solar projects and batteries for storage should be built, and the new powerlines required to connect it all.

The Renewable Energy Alliance (RE-Alliance) said the plan is an important step forward for certainty and clarity.

“Victorian communities have been calling for a clear plan and now we have it. It gives clarity for where we’re going to build the renewable energy we need to replace coal, and how we’re going to connect it into the electricity grid,” said RE-Alliance National Director Andrew Bray.

Bray said as Victoria prepares to close the Yallourn coal-fired power station, the plan’s increased urgency around the delivery of key transmission infrastructure projects is welcome, as is certainty on the amount of land required for wind, solar and battery projects in renewable energy zones.

“Communities now have a clear picture on the 1% of land required to host physical infrastructure like solar farms, wind turbines and roads, and where and when the powerlines need to be built,” Bray said. “Now, the hard work comes to build public trust for the change ahead and to back-in regional capacity to deliver that change.

“We look forward to seeing the further consultation that has been promised on how communities can benefit, which is an important piece of the puzzle to get right. Local councils and community groups need capacity and support to lead this change and we think policy solutions like Local Energy Hubs can be a part of the solution.”

RE-Alliance called to establish these Local Energy Hubs in key regions in its submission to the draft Victorian Transmission Plan for the Victorian Government.

“With so many government agencies and private companies involved in the shift to clean energy, communities are telling us they need a source of trusted information that can answer their questions. Local Energy Hubs could provide this,” Bray said.

“These hubs would be physical centres with a strong outreach program, staffed by independent local experts to help build trust and provide accurate information about what’s happening.”

Image credit: iStock.com/mikulas1