Frequently asked questions - Far South Coast community solar and battery grant program

About the grants

What do the grants cover?

The Far South Coast (FSC) community solar and battery grants program will fund new solar and battery installations on facilities used by community groups for recreation, social, sporting and/or cultural purposes.

Which areas are eligible?

Those areas in the postcodes 2545, 2546, 2548, 2549, 2550, 2551.

What projects are eligible?

The grants will be available for new solar systems, a battery system, or both. The cost of your project must be between $10,000 to $1,000,000.

We will consider proposals for solar and or batteries on facilities other than buildings if applicants can prove their proposal meets eligibility and merit criteria. These cases will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Eligible building and facility owners can apply for additional solar and or batteries to supplement an existing system. However, the grant funding cannot be used to replace any existing systems.

Applicants will need to demonstrate how the project will benefit the Far South Coast community through:

lower energy costs
reduced emissions
increased resilience, and
supporting local businesses.

Each grant application will be assessed on its merit.

Applying

Who can apply?

Only an owner of a building or facility which is available for community groups to use can apply. The building or facility must be located within an eligible postcode.

Applicants will need to demonstrate how their proposal will benefit the community through reduced energy costs and increased resilience.

How can community groups get involved?

Community groups cannot apply for a grant, but they can help a grant application by writing a letter of support for the proposal.

Building and facility owners will need to provide evidence that they have discussed the proposal with the community groups that use their facility.

How can I prove my project will lower energy costs for the community?

You will be required to provide at least one quote from an accredited and licenced installer that will show the estimated reduction in energy costs. You will also be required to demonstrate how you will pass these savings on to the community groups that use your facility.

How can I prove my project will reduce emissions?

The quote from an accredited and licenced installer you need to submit with your application should also show the estimated reduction in carbon emissions.

How can I prove my project will increase community resilience?

You will need to describe how the addition of solar and/or battery storage to your facility could help the community during an emergency. This could include a description of how the back-up power can be used to bring the community together, to provide shelter to the community, or enable the facility to be used as a storage and distribution point for emergency services.

How can I prove my project will support local businesses?

You can prove the project will support local businesses by demonstrating the use of local qualified and accredited tradespeople to install and maintain the solar and battery installations.

What do I need to include in my application?

In addition to answering the eligibility and merit assessment criteria, applicants must provide:

any existing quotes for the installation of solar and battery assets
the estimated costing and budget items for the proposed project
letters of support from community groups
any documents that support the merit assessment criteria, including estimations in energy bill and emissions reductions, emergency preparedness and how your project will support local businesses.

What is the timing for this grants program?

This is a one-off grants program.

16 October 2024: applications open
13 December 2024: applications close
May 2025: successful applicants will be notified and sign a funding agreement with the NSW Government and receive an initial payment of 10% of the total cost.
June 2026: program closure, all successful projects must be installed.

Do I need to contribute any funding to be eligible?

No. You do not need to contribute funding to be eligible. However, applicants applying for this grant may seek additional funding from other grant programs available from local, state, and federal government, including grants from Commonwealth initiatives such as the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).

When will the money be paid during the project?

Funding will be paid in three instalments:

10% prior to the project starting
60% when the project is at 50% completion
30% when the installation is completed.

Will the funding cover the entire cost of the project?

Funding will cover the cost of purchasing and installing the solar and battery assets. However, it will not pay for ongoing maintenance of these assets.

What if I can’t complete the installation before June 2026?

If you can’t complete the installation before June 2026, let us know early so we can discuss your options.

Getting help

Where do I find more information on the program?

More details can be found in the Grant Application Guidelines. For additional information please contact [email protected].