Marysville Center Harnesses Solar, Battery Power
On Monday 10 March, Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio announced that Murrindindi Shire Council has been successful in securing grant funding for a battery storage and solar PV installation at the Marysville Community Centre as part of round two of the Victorian Government’s $42 million 100 Neighbourhood Battery Program.
The project at the Marysville Community Centre is being 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 of councils.
Climate change and extreme weather events pose an increasing risk to electricity infrastructure in Murrindindi Shire. Marysville has been affected by multiple weather events in recent years, that caused extended grid outages. With extreme weather events in the region becoming more frequent, there is a growing need for the establishment of an energy resilient hub in Marysville.
Following detailed feasibility and business case work undertaken in partnership with the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance in 2024, Council identified the Marysville Community Centre as a suitable location for an energy resilience hub for the town and surrounding areas.
The project will double the current solar at the centre and install an energy backup system of a 120 kWh battery to future-proof this site as an energy resilient hub for residents of Marysville and surrounding areas to access in the event of an extended grid outage.
The system should provide up to three days backup power. It can also charge from solar while the mains power is out, extending this time.
The success of this grant funding is an important step towards making Marysville Community Centre a more energy-efficient, resilient, and sustainable space for the community. Murrindindi Shire Council is proud to be playing a leadership role in the facilitation of local energy solutions that create long-term environment and financial benefits and demonstrate a model for others to follow.
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 its support and looks forward to the successful completion of this project in 2026. Council would also like to acknowledge the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance for its support of sustainability initiatives in our region.
Murrindindi Shire Council’s Cathedral Ward Councillor Sandice McAulay was pleased with the outcome for the Marysville community.
“This neighbourhood battery will make a difference to the Marysville community and increase resilience in an area of high fire and storm risk. It also aligns with Council’s sustainability goals for Murrindindi Shire. I would like to thank the Victorian Government for the grant funding, as projects of this size are beyond the scope of small regional councils like ours. The success of projects like this shows the impact we can have when we work together.” Cr McAulay said.
https://www.murrindindi.vic.gov.au/Council/News-and-Media/Council-News/Marysville-Community-Centre-to-power-the-future-with-battery-storage-and-solar