Community energy
The Mycelia Energy Collective is launching an energy pilot program and is holding an information session on May 27.
The Mycelia Energy Collective is launching an energy pilot program and is holding an information session on May 27 at the Corinella Community Centre.
Imagine being able to do good with your energy bill. What if there was a way to share your excess solar with friends, family and people in your community doing it tough? Or at the very least, a way to ensure some of what you pay for electricity is redirected back into your community?
The Mycelia Energy Collective was recently selected for WWF Australia’s ambitious Innovate to Regenerate Program rolling out across Australia.
The Program aims to support regenerative, community-led solutions that encourage impact investment in priority areas such as food, biodiversity and climate, and to establish a powerful network equipped to regenerate Australia through linked projects.
The Mycelia Energy Collective is in its pilot phase and is seeking a combination of 100 households and businesses to participate. By joining up, you’ll help shape and test the model for further rollout across the state, and potentially communities across Australia.
An information session will be held on May 27 at Corinella and District Community Centre from 10.30am – 12.30pm.
Benefits for all
The Collective said the renewable energy transition is happening quickly and promises a range of benefits for people who can afford it.
“Homeowners are lapping up opportunities for solar and/or battery installations, with plenty of financing options, timely government incentives, and reduced energy bills for years to come,” a group spokesperson said.
“With electricity rumoured to spike by 20 per cent this winter, and 30-40 per cent over the next few years, it’s a smart move.”
For renters, low-income earners, people living in flats or other dwellings unsuitable for rooftop solar, the outlook is less promising.
“While most power companies offer ‘green’ energy, it’s often charged at a premium price, further excluding low-income earners from accessing renewable energy,” the spokesperson said.
“Furthermore, high household energy bills can be the result of inefficient homes and appliances, which is often a feature of older homes with poor or no insultation, single-glazed windows or no coverings, and older appliances, such as hot-water units, gas heaters and fridges.”
While a home energy audit and subsequent upgrades can help reduce energy bills by 20-30 per cent, many of the upgrades required come with barriers for low-income earners and renters.
The Mycelia Energy Collective is community or social energy with equity and community-wealth building at its core.
Open to all, it offers 100 per cent certified renewable energy at no extra cost, so nobody is left behind. Members include people with solar panels, some with solar and batteries, and some without either.
The Collective uses energy matching technology provided through their partnership with The People’s Grid, as a vehicle for sharing energy amongst members of the Collective.
A pay-it-forward option to enable members to donate their feed-in-tariff to a friend or family member or anyone in the Collective being badly impacted by high energy prices is also being developed.
“Ultimately the Collective will be empowered to set real targets for local energy generation, use and storage that yields benefits to members, their communities and the grid, as we navigate the ups and downs of transitioning to renewables,” the Collective stated.
Any profits will be directed back into partnering communities through energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives.
The Mycelia Energy Collective has been funded in part by the Victorian Government’s New Energy Jobs Fund #6, WWF-Australia’s Innovate to Regenerate Program and is proudly being delivered alongside partners Sunscape Solar, Ecoliv, Maximum Energy and The People’s Grid.
The Mycelia Energy Collective is also supporting the Totally Renewable Tenby Point community in achieving their target of zero emissions by 2030.
An information session will be held on May 27 at Corinella and District Community Centre from 10.30am – 12.30pm. All are welcome.
Mycelia is a profit-for-purpose social enterprise and registered charity. Mycelia supports regional communities to lead change in the areas of environmental and cultural governance and renewable energy.
