Renewable Energy Benalla (REB)

REB was established following a successful community forum held in October 2016 about a renewable energy future for Benalla.  In 2017, Beyond Zero Emissions, a national think tank focussed on reducing emissions to zero, offered to help us develop a 10-year transition strategy to 100% renewables. The Benalla Stationary Energy Transition Strategy was launched at another community forum in November 2017 and REB's goal became 100% renewable stationary energy by 2028.
 
The Transition Strategy details three major steps to achieve 100% renewables:

  • Reduce energy demand by one third through energy efficiency,
  • Replace one third of grid energy with renewable resources,
  • Switch one third - build utility scale renewables and storage.
 
Since 2018 REB has been involved in the following activities:

  • Community engagement and advocacy to build momentum and support for renewable energy within the community, as well as encouraging and supporting council action.
  • Conducting energy efficiency sessions aimed at improving the thermal performance of existing houses and reducing energy demand and energy bills.
  • Investigating the possibility of establishing a utility scale waste to energy project in Benalla.
  • Developing a set of pamphlets about: Energy Efficiency at Home; Keeping Rental Houses Comfortable and Energy Efficient; Installing Solar PV and Batteries.
  • Partnering with BZE to conduct the regional launch of BZE's “Electrifying Industry” report.
  • Establishing the Benalla Community Energy Project,  a donation-based Community Energy Fund to make loans to community buildings to fund installation of solar panels or energy efficiency works.  Loan repayments are based on savings on energy bills.
  • Obtaining a $5000 grant from the Winton Solar Farm Community Benefit program to enable us to undertake our first Community Energy Project of installing panels on Munro Ave. kindergarten, without the need to conduct a fundraising program.