Grants up to $500,000 to support DNSPs and other organisations to install, connect and operate community batteries to reduce household electricity costs and lower emissions.
Current status of program
CLOSED
To register your interest in future rounds or discuss alternative grant opportunities please contact us here.
On this page you will find
- An overview of Community Batteries for Household Solar Program (CBHSP) – Stream 1 grants funding
- Every detail you need to know
- Resources and help to get the grant
What is the Community Batteries for Household Solar Program (CBHSP)?
The Community Batteries for Household Solar Program (CBHSP) – Stream 1 will deliver community batteries to 56 locations in Australia to support lower electricity bills and emissions, support storage of excess solar energy, and reduce pressure on the grid.
Funding applications are open to Distributed Network Service Providers (DNSPs) and other organisations, including local, state and territory government agencies or bodies, and publicly funded research organisations.
CBHSP level of support
Grants
- $1000 per kilowatt hour (kWh) of battery storage capacity
- $100,000 to $500,000 per eligible location
- Maximum 100% of eligible project expenditure
Co-contribution
- Applicant is responsible for any remaining eligible and all ineligible project costs
CBHSP important dates
- This program is currently closed
- Register your interest here with GrantHelper
CBHSP important details that you will need to know
CBHSP objectives and outcomes
The objective of the grant opportunity is to install, connect and operate community batteries in the 56 eligible locations listed in the guidelines.
The intended outcomes of the program are to:
- put downward pressure on household electricity costs
- contribute towards lowering emissions
- provide a net benefit to the electricity network, having regard to matters such as network constraints
- store solar energy for later use or sharing, and support further solar installations
- allow households that cannot install solar panels to enjoy the benefits of renewable energy through shared community storage
Organisations eligible for CBHSP support
To be eligible you must:
- have an ABN
and be one of the following entities:
- an entity, incorporated in Australia (including where acting as trustee on behalf of a trust)
- an Australian local government agency or body
- a publicly funded research organisation (PFRO) as defined in the guidelines
- an Australian state/territory government agency or body
Joint applications are acceptable, provided you have a lead organisation who is the main driver of the project and is eligible to apply.
Only one community battery can be applied for and installed in each eligible location.
Applicants must also:
- declare that you have obtained, or can obtain access to a site for the community battery and associated equipment to be installed
- declare that the community battery is intended to continue to be operated in pursuit of the intended outcomes of the program for the operational life of the battery
- declare that you will deliver your project in accordance with relevant legislation including electrical safety legislation, policies, management arrangements and industry standards
- provide all mandatory attachments (see below)
Applicants other than DNSPs must also provide written evidence of conditional or in-principle agreement of the relevant DNSP that a suitable network connection point can be identified or provided in your chosen location.
You are not eligible to apply if you are:
- an organisation, or your project partner is an organisation, included on the National Redress Scheme’s website on the list of ‘Institutions that have not joined or signified their intent to join the Scheme’
- an employer of 100 or more employees that has not complied with the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012 (Cth)
- an individual
- a partnership
- an unincorporated association
- a trust (however, an incorporated trustee may apply on behalf of a trust)
- a Commonwealth entity
See the guidelines for full details of eligible and ineligible organisations.
Projects eligible for CBHSP support
To be eligible your project must:
- commission and install a community battery (as defined in the guidelines)
- have at least $100,000 in eligible expenditure
See the guidelines for full details of eligible projects.
Activities eligible for CBHSP support
Eligible activities may include:
- purchase of community battery equipment including a battery energy storage system/s and essential components
- installation and connection of community battery including earthworks, construction and installation of essential ancillary structures and services by licensed tradespeople
- purchase and/or development of information technology systems essential for the operation of the community battery
- measures to address electrical safety, and to prevent and manage fire
See the guidelines for full details of eligible activities.
Expenditure eligible for CBHSP support
To be eligible, expenditure must:
- be a direct cost of the project
- be incurred by you for required project audit activities
Eligible expenditure items are:
- purchase of community battery equipment
- site preparation and survey
- installation costs
- construction costs
- connection fees or charges
- the cost of an independent audit of project expenditure (where requested) up to a maximum of 1% of total eligible project expenditure
Expenditure items that are not eligible are:
- costs associated with business as usual, including existing staff salaries
- land acquisition and related expenses
- operational costs of running the community battery
- costs for maintaining the community battery
- expenditure on other projects
See the guidelines for full details of eligible and ineligible expenditure.
Information to prepare for the CBHSP application
You must provide the following documents with your application:
- project plan
- evidence that you have conditional or in-principle agreement of the relevant DNSP that a suitable network connection point can be identified or provided in your chosen location, and that the proposed operation of the community battery will not adversely impact the local network
- letters of support from all project contributors, other than you, confirming the contributions towards the project
- for joint applications, a letter of support from each of the project partners
- if applying as an incorporated association or incorporated not for profit organisation and you do not have an active state or territory incorporated association registration or ACNC registration at the time of application, you must provide Constitutional documents and/or Articles of Association that demonstrate the character of the organisation (where applicable)
- trust deed (where applicable)
See the guidelines for full details of project plan and other information requirements.
Applying for CBHSP
Applications are submitted online via business.gov.au.
Book a no obligation discovery session with GrantHelper to increase your chances of success.
CBHSP assessment criteria
| Ref | Criteria | Weighting |
| 1 | Project alignment with the policy intent (program objectives/outcomes) – contribution to lowering electricity costs and emissions – delivery of net benefit to the electricity network – storage of solar energy for later use or sharing and support for further solar installations – renewable energy benefits through shared community storage, including number of households serviced and estimated cost reductions | 50% |
| 2 | Capacity, capability and resources to deliver the project – installation and risk management framework – capacity to install, operate and maintain the battery – access to required infrastructure, capital equipment, technology and IP – knowledge and experience in acquiring the necessary approvals – strategy for maintaining the project beyond the funding period | 50% |
See the guidelines for full details of the assessment.
CBHSP resources
How do I get the CBHSP?
You should read and understand the guidelines.
You need to ensure you are eligible for the funding. Applicants that do not meet all the eligibility criteria outlined above will not be considered.
Successful applicants will demonstrate:
- a project proposal aligned with the program’s objectives of lowering electricity bills and emissions, supporting the storage of excess solar energy, and reducing pressure on the grid
- a sound project methodology with measurable and achievable impact on electricity prices and on households gaining access to renewable energy benefits
- a robust framework for installation and risk management, including access to the necessary resources and IP
- knowledge and experience in understanding and gaining the required approvals
- the necessary capacity and capability to deliver the project in full within the agreed timeframe
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