Residents and businesses across the Illawarra and Shoalhaven regions will again have the opportunity to access clean, affordable renewable energy with the launch of Round 2 of the Community Renewables Program.

The second round of the initiative - delivered by the Illawarra Shoalhaven Joint Organisation in partnership with its member councils of Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama and Shoalhaven - follows a highly successful opening foray last year when more than 300 local households installed solar and battery systems.

“The program aims to remove key barriers to renewable energy while building local grid resilience and reducing emissions across the region and we’re off to a great start”, said ISJO manager net zero Patrick Whitford.

The program will reduce the upfront costs of solar and battery installations for residents and businesses, deliver access to high-quality solar and battery systems at exclusive rates, offer information sessions and tailored advice to community members, provide knowledge on energy efficiency and distributed energy systems, partner with local installers and service providers to deliver quality installations, and provide practical ways to contribute to climate action.

Round 1 was highlighted with an incredible 100% of battery installations opting to participate in the virtual power plant (VPP).

The ISJO said its continued partnership with service delivery provider Shine Hub ensures that participants benefit from

an end-to-end solution supporting solar and battery storage adoption and participation in a VPP.

Residents and businesses can express interest in Round 2 and access further information at: www.shinehub.com.au/isjo.