Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio recently announced that Benalla Rural City Council had been successful in securing grant funding for a battery storage installation at the Sir Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop Learning Centre.
The funding is part of round two of the Victorian Government’s $42 million 100 Neighbourhood Battery Program.
The project is funded as part of a joint initiative led by the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance in partnership with 10 councils across regional Victoria, with support from the Goulburn Murray Climate Alliance.
Following detailed feasibility and business case work, undertaken in partnership with CVGA in 2024, the Sir Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop Learning Centre, also known as the Benalla Library, was identified as a suitable location for an energy resilience hub for the town and surrounding areas.
An energy backup system comprised of a [60 kW / 170 kWh] battery system installed at the library will future-proof the site as an energy resilient hub for local residents to access in the event of an extended grid outage.
Climate change and extreme weather events pose an increasing risk to electricity infrastructure in Benalla Rural City.
The energy backup system increases the capacity for the site to act as a relief centre during power outages.
The proposed system is expected to provide up to three days of backup power for critical power and lighting circuits from the battery alone, with capacity to charge from solar, to extended the backup power duration if required.
The battery infrastructure will also provide a significant financial benefit, with savings and revenue generated estimated to be around $250,000 after the first 10 years.
This grant funding is an important step towards making the Sir Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop Learning Centre a more energy-efficient, resilient, and sustainable space for the community.
Cr Hearn said she welcomed the announcement, and that council was proud to be playing a leadership role in facilitating local energy solutions that create long-term environment and financial benefits, as well as demonstrating a model for others to follow.
"This funding is a significant step forward in ensuring Benalla Rural City’s energy resilience during extreme weather events, protects our community when it’s needed most," Cr Hearn said.
"Benalla Rural City Council is proud to lead the way in fostering local energy solutions that deliver lasting environmental and economic benefits for our community."
Batteries funded through the 100 Neighbourhood Batteries Program are helping Victoria reach its target of at least 2.6 GW of energy storage by 2030 and 6.3 GW by 2035.
“Council is grateful to the Victorian Government for their support and looks forward to the successful completion of this project in 2026,” Cr Hearn said.
“Council also acknowledges the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance for its support of sustainability initiatives in our region.”
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