RENEWABLE ENERGY BENALLA (REB) is a small subgroup of BSFG and promotes the efficient use of Renewable Energy in the Benalla region.
REB attends the bi-monthly meetings of NERSA (North East Regional Sustainability Alliance), which cover all sustainable activities in the whole North East region. It is very inspiring to find out just how much is going on overall, even when we have difficulty in making much progress locally. The very extensive minutes are circulated to interested REB members.
REB also attends the CEN (Community Energy Network) bi-monthly meetings. This group has speakers on all aspects of the rapidly evolving Community Energy scene, with emphasis on how the Community can benefit from the current fast moving policy changes and development of large PV farms and big Batteries in our locality.
Throughout the year REB has attended several public information sessions held by PV and Battery Developers. We have generally supported them as they do not involve prime farmland, and their environmental footprint is minor.
REB has been overseeing the Revolving Fund set up from an initial seeding Community Grant from an earlier PV farm developer. This fund is used to install PV behind the meter for local not for profit identities such as kindergartens, with the recipients repaying the cost from savings made. The first two kindergartens have just completed repayments (and now own the assets), and earlier this year we installed an installation for Ed Space
REB ran a series of public education seminars on renewable energy some years ago. We have been looking at a possible new series, now including "Electrify Everything” and assisting the reduction of Gas appliances. We are still assessing how to target sufficient interest to make the considerable effort required worthwhile.
Some of our members have been heavily involved in an application for a Community Grant of about $80k for Swanpool Hall. This grant is to improve the Hall workability as the Neighbourhood Safer Place and includes increasing the PV to 30 kW and a 50kWh battery. The grant process is a long, tortuous nightmare - we have got through the first stage and have just completed the last stage. We now wait (patiently!) to see if it is successful.
REB is just a small group, and we would welcome more interested members.
Kevin Smith, Convenor REB
28 May 2026
REB attends the bi-monthly meetings of NERSA (North East Regional Sustainability Alliance), which cover all sustainable activities in the whole North East region. It is very inspiring to find out just how much is going on overall, even when we have difficulty in making much progress locally. The very extensive minutes are circulated to interested REB members.
REB also attends the CEN (Community Energy Network) bi-monthly meetings. This group has speakers on all aspects of the rapidly evolving Community Energy scene, with emphasis on how the Community can benefit from the current fast moving policy changes and development of large PV farms and big Batteries in our locality.
Throughout the year REB has attended several public information sessions held by PV and Battery Developers. We have generally supported them as they do not involve prime farmland, and their environmental footprint is minor.
REB has been overseeing the Revolving Fund set up from an initial seeding Community Grant from an earlier PV farm developer. This fund is used to install PV behind the meter for local not for profit identities such as kindergartens, with the recipients repaying the cost from savings made. The first two kindergartens have just completed repayments (and now own the assets), and earlier this year we installed an installation for Ed Space
REB ran a series of public education seminars on renewable energy some years ago. We have been looking at a possible new series, now including "Electrify Everything” and assisting the reduction of Gas appliances. We are still assessing how to target sufficient interest to make the considerable effort required worthwhile.
Some of our members have been heavily involved in an application for a Community Grant of about $80k for Swanpool Hall. This grant is to improve the Hall workability as the Neighbourhood Safer Place and includes increasing the PV to 30 kW and a 50kWh battery. The grant process is a long, tortuous nightmare - we have got through the first stage and have just completed the last stage. We now wait (patiently!) to see if it is successful.
REB is just a small group, and we would welcome more interested members.
Kevin Smith, Convenor REB
28 May 2026
