Renewable energy project support

Victorian Renewable Energy Target auctions VRET1 and VRET2

The Victorian Renewable Energy Target auctions VRET1 and VRET2 help us meet our renewable energy targets by providing long-term contracts that create investment certainty to build new energy generation projects.

Renewable energy zones

Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) are areas in Victoria with the greatest potential for renewable energy, such as wind, sunshine, rain, tides, waves and geothermal heat. We’re planning the future energy grid with the batteries and high-voltage wires needed to develop renewable energy resources at scale and in a coordinated way. Visit VicGrid to see how we are developing our REZs.

Innovation

The key to delivering the energy transformation will be innovation in technology solutions, business operations and stakeholder engagement.

Five rounds of the New Energy Jobs Fund supported Victorian-based projects that:

create long-term sustainable jobs
increase the uptake of renewable energy generation
reduce greenhouse gas emissions
drive innovation in new energy technologies.

The Energy Innovation Fund supports activities that progress innovative projects to commercial products. This includes:

feasibility and pre-investment studies
front-end-engineering-design
large-scale pilots and demonstrations.

The Business and Industry Engagement team is your first port of call for guidance, information and access to industry networks and programs. BIE assists business and industry stakeholders to navigate government and connect with the relevant policy, regulatory and program areas to help progress their projects and technologies. BIE connects stakeholders with helpful industry tools, contacts, and referrals across the whole of Victoria’s renewable energy value chain to leverage strategic partnerships. BIE promotes Victorian investment opportunities to prospective international and interstate markets and coordinate visit programs for international business energy delegations.

Managing impacts of renewable energy projects on biodiversity

We are taking action to balance protection of Victoria’s unique and threatened biodiversity while enabling essential new renewable energy projects.

A better approach to managing biodiversity impacts of renewable energy projects outlines actions to support the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, while protecting our precious biodiversity. This will provide energy proponents, and investors, greater clarity and predictability when it comes to the process for having projects assessed.

Actions include:

a new state-wide Biodiversity Values Map and supporting spatial tools that identify areas of biodiversity value to inform siting decisions, in particular areas that should be avoided
targeted research to fill gaps in understanding of impacts of wind energy on at-risk bird and bat species and to inform standards and mitigation measures
guidance to support siting, design and operation of energy projects to better manage biodiversity impacts including a new Handbook for the development of renewable energy in Victoria that will list species of concern, potential mitigation measures and include a template for all future bat and avifauna management plans
guidance for managing impacts on specific species, including updated Brolga standards and targeted guidance for bats.

Ensuring benefits for host communities

It is important that renewable energy developments deliver benefits for host communities. Our guide for developers outlines requirements to undertake respectful and considered engagement with host communities; as part of any project and deliver long-term benefits.

Solar energy facilities

The Minister for Planning is the responsible authority for new planning permit applications of all energy generation facilities that are 1 megawatt or greater. Learn more about how we are supporting development of well sited, well designed solar energy generation facilities in Victoria.

Solar energy facilities - Design and development guidelines

Page last updated: 30/04/24