The Carroll Labor Government is helping food and beverage manufacturers bring down energy bills, protect Victorian jobs and transition off gas.
Minister for Energy and Resources Jaclyn Symes revealed the first six projects to share in the $10 million third round of the Energy Innovation Fund, focused on supporting businesses that are harder to electrify.
The projects will give businesses the choice to upgrade to efficient electric equipment which will reduce their reliance on gas and lower their energy bills.
Combined, these six businesses are estimated to save around $4 million a year on their energy bills.
The Committee for Greater Shepparton will introduce electric heat storage across multiple food and beverage manufacturing sites.
Barry Callebaut will install industrial heat pumps at its Campbellfield confectionery factory.
Hazeldene's will use a new heat pump system to turn waste heat into hot water at its Lockwood poultry processing facility.
Mars Petcare will introduce electric heat storage at its Wodonga factory, replacing about a quarter of the gas used in pet food processing.
Tatura Milk Industries will install electric heat storage at Bega's Tatura dairy facility to reduce gas use.
Minter Magic will install two microgrids and three batteries at its almond and citrus processing site in Iraak.
Victoria's $47.6 billion food and beverage manufacturing industry supports more than 75,000 jobs across 3,900 businesses.
Round three attracted applications representing more than $120 million in project value, with further successful projects to be announced in the coming months.
The Liberals and Nationals would rip up the energy projects Victorians need - leaving local manufacturers paying more and putting local jobs at risk.
As stated by Minister for Energy and Resources Jaclyn Symes
"The Liberals and Nationals are lying when they say will lower energy bills. Labor is the only party that has delivered the lowest power prices in the country."
"Every dollar manufacturers save on energy is a dollar they can put back into their business - backing local jobs and keeping Victorian-made products competitive."
"Running on gas is more expensive for businesses - we're helping businesses with the upfront cost of better equipment so they can transition of gas and save on their power bills".
