At least 40 community buildings used to support the emergency response during this year’s North Island severe weather events will be fitted with solar and battery systems to boost community resilience, thanks to a new round of Government funding.
Through the next round of the $46 million Community Renewable Energy Fund, $6.5 million will go towards solar energy systems on key community buildings in Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Eastern Bay of Plenty, Tairāwhiti, Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa.
The Fund will also address barriers in getting community-level renewable energy projects off the ground, by establishing a virtual capability-building hub to help communities create robust, informed plans to take their projects forward, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) said in a statement.
“From mid–2024, $27 million in funding will also be available to help communities deliver a mix of energy resilience projects, ranging in scale and complexity, and bespoke community energy scheme opportunities across New Zealand,” the Ministry said.
