When you open a new application, click 'View as PDF' (bottom of page). This will display the entire application form as a PDF. You can then download, print and share this form as needed.
You can also save and review any part of your application form at any time before submission.
If you would like assistance navigating the application portal, please email grantsinfo@deeca.vic.gov.au and quote your application number.
If you want to install multiple batteries and solar panel systems connected to a single connection point, we will assess this as a single battery and solar panel system.
You will only be eligible to apply for maximum funding of $700,000 per battery and solar system per connection point. However, applicants can apply for funding for multiple batteries and solar systems, as long as they are connected at different connection points.
For example: 2 x 25kW batteries connected to the same connection point in an apartment building. We would consider this to be 50kW of combined battery storage.
Under Criteria 4:
For your neighbourhood battery and solar panel system you will need to provide evidence that you:
This might include, for example: public liability and/or property insurance.
Evidence may include:
It is important that you can demonstrate your awareness of, and planning for, neighbourhood battery operation costs such as insurance in the project plan.
Note: ongoing maintenance costs are not eligible for grant funding.
You must submit a project budget in your application. This must have costs of your project based on the best available information. Installation costs could be estimated based on desktop research of similar projects.
However, quotes from suppliers and/or installers will provide you with greater confidence regarding the accuracy of your project budget. This will also give you greater accuracy in calculating your requested grant amount.
Note: An application with a project plan that includes quotes for key budget items is likely to score more highly against Criteria 3 and 4 of the assessment criteria.
For further guidance, download the Revenue Cost and Benefit Development Tool on the 'Tools and resources' page of our website.
This assists you to identify the revenues, costs and benefits of your proposed neighbourhood battery project.
There is no minimum funding amount.
There is a maximum of $700,000 funding available per project. Projects may install solar only or battery storage only, however this will reduce funding to $350,000 per project.
If you are seeking funding to install more than one system, please submit a single application. The combined funding sought should equal no more than the total eligible per battery funding.
For instance: an applicant seeking $450,000 funding for one project and $330,000 funding for another project may make a single application for $780,000 grant funding.
Projects are differentiated by location and require an individual NMI , connection point or off-grid site location per project.
If applying for multiple systems in a single application, your application must provide enough detail to allow DEECA to assess the merits of the overall project, as well as each system individually.
Wages can be allocated to the grant for staff members working partially or wholly on the First Peoples Solar and Storage Initiative.
You are not required to spend exactly half and half on the solar system and battery system within the same project. However, the split between expenditure on solar and battery must be reasonable and in line with the objectives of the program.
If you’re unsure on what may be considered a reasonable split, please contact DEECA via neighbourhood.batteries@deeca.vic.gov.au.
You may seek funding for any number of systems if they meet the eligibility criteria. Your application must provide sufficient detail to allow DEECA to assess the merit of both the overall project and each system against the assessment criteria.
DEECA reserves the right to approve a project with a reduced number of systems if some of the proposed batteries don’t score well on the assessment criteria. In this situation, the grant funding would be reduced relative to the reduction in the number of systems.
You may allocate costs to the budget for designing and finalising designs for solar panels and battery systems to the grant.
Applications with more detailed project plans, that include initial or complete designs, will be assessed more favourably.
It is recommended that your application clearly state what work has already been undertaken to design the project for which you are seeking funding, and what work (including any final system designs) will occur if you are successful in being awarded a grant. For instance, you may plan on installing a 200kWh battery and 100kW solar system based on current rough quotes but will complete final designs after a more thorough site assessment.
A neighbourhood battery is a mid-scale energy storage device, generally with a storage capacity of 40kWh – 1 MWh.
Note: the First Peoples’ Solar and Storage Initiative will fund batteries from 20kW/40kWh to 5MW/20MWh.
DEECA has no preference to battery types or chemistry, so long as the batteries meet the eligibility criteria. Every battery has different strengths and attributes. You should consider the battery(s) that can best meet your project objectives.
Please note that batteries must be:
Stackable modules can be used to achieve the minimum battery size of 20kW/40kWh.
Note: stackable modules must be connected to a single connection point to be considered as part of the same battery under this program.
For example, a project installing 4 x 10kW/20kWh stackable battery modules in a series would be assessed as a single 40kW/80kWh battery, if connected to single connection point.
Network benefits of neighbourhood batteries may include:
The Victoria Government wants to ensure that community members feel safe and comfortable having neighbourhood batteries in their local area.
Whether funded by the First Peoples Solar and Storage Initiative or otherwise, all neighbourhood batteries are required to meet Australian safety standards and guidelines. This includes adhering to regulations for licensed electrical works that include Australian Standards such as:
In delivering the projects, all grant recipients are required to comply with all relevant Commonwealth and state/territory legislations and regulations, including but not limited to:
What happens to neighbourhood batteries once they reach their end of life is an important concern for communities. This will become an increasingly important issue as electric vehicles become a larger part of our transport fleet. It is a key focus of the Victorian Government’s policy workstream.
We are currently considering the lifecycle impacts of neighbourhood batteries as part of Victoria’s circular economy policy. This includes product stewardship arrangements that emphasise diverting and reducing battery waste through re-designing and recycling.
Costs for generator change-over switches and other essential components of an energy back-up system(s) are eligible for funding. Such components must be clearly identified in your project plan and project budget.
Note:
Please consult the Application Guidelines for any ineligible expenses or activities.
EV charging infrastructure is not eligible under any the First Peoples Solar and Storage Initiative.
You can use grant funding to fund reasonable site works necessary to install a neighbourhood battery and solar panel system.
These could include but are not limited to:
Important: these works must be clearly identified in your project plan and project budget.
Note: any works should be carefully considered and only included if integral to project delivery. These works will increase the overall project cost and change the value for money data provided for Criteria 4.
Please consult the Application Guidelines to check that you are not seeking funding for any ineligible expenses or activities.
If you are uncertain, please contact us at neighbourhood.batteries@deeca.vic.gov.au to seek clarification.
In addition to the battery and solar panel systems, you may also install other equipment to create a complete energy back-up, such as:
If you already have existing assets, such as solar PV or a diesel generator, please document in your application how those assets would be integrated into the energy back-up system with the neighbourhood battery.
If you will not be integrating some existing energy assets into the energy back-up system, your application should explain why.
DEECA will assess all applications against the assessment criteria (see ‘How we will assess applications’ in the Application guidelines).
To give yourself the best opportunity to score well on the assessment criteria, we encourage you to include:
There is no limit on the number of back-up systems you can apply for, as long as they all meet the eligibility criteria.
If applying for multiple back-up systems in a single application, you must provide sufficient detail to allow DEECA to assess the merits of the overall project and each back-up system individually against the assessment criteria.
DEECA reserves the right to approve a project with a reduced number of back-up systems if some of the proposed systems don’t score well on the assessment criteria. In this situation, the grant funding would be reduced relative to the reduction in number of back-up systems.
Support structures such as ground mounting equipment for solar panels are eligible for grant funding. However carports, sheds and other structures, not specifically for the installation of solar, are not eligible.
The lead organisation does not need to own the land on which the battery or solar system is installed; it can be leased from the landowner.
However, as part of your application, you will need to provide evidence showing the status of land access for the proposed project location, including a letter of support from the landowner.
If the application is successful in securing an offer of grant funding, a signed Landlord Agreement would be required as a project milestone deliverable under a signed Funding Agreement with the State of Victoria.
We suggest you start a conversation with a DNSP as early as possible. The DNSP (Powercor, AusNet, Jemena) will be required, at minimum, to finalise the connection of the solar and battery system to the grid.
They may also be able to provide network side information such as voltage issues, capacity available and types of suitable connection points.
DEECA cannot provide names of organisations however there is information on our website on steps to establish a neighbourhood battery.
Page last updated: 17/04/25