Rural and regional communities across Victoria now have a plan for the build out of the renewable energy infrastructure needed to replace the state's ageing coal-fired power stations over the next 15 years.
VicGrid has released the Victorian Transmission Plan, responding to feedback from agriculture, environment, community, and industry groups and ongoing engagement with First Nations communities.
It 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), an independent not-for-profit working for more than a decade with regional communities at the centre of the shift to renewables, says 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.
Mr 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 like Western Renewables Link by 2028 and VNI West by the early 2030s 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 power lines need to be built.
"Now the hard work comes to build public trust for the change ahead and to back in regional capacity to deliver that change," Mr Bray said.
"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 strongly in its submission to the draft Victorian Transmission Plan for the Victorian Government to establish Local Energy Hubs in key regions.
"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," says Bray.
"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," he said.
