Clean energy, cleantech & circular economy

The G21 region is actively committed to achieving zero carbon emissions and building a clean energy economy.

The effects of climate change on the region are felt acutely by G21’s communities. The annual threat of bushfire, rising sea levels, drought and diminishing water supplies are real and present issues.

The protection of the region’s famous natural beauty and fragile landscapes is also a major priority for residents and visitors.

In response, the private sector, community groups, regional institutions and local councils are actively driving the transition with help from Victorian and Commonwealth governments.

Clean Energy Economy

G21 has an emerging clean energy economy and is seeking major, ongoing investment to stimulate innovation, multiply jobs, expand the sector and cut emissions faster.

Significant assets include:

• the biggest wind farm in the southern hemisphere, Golden Plains Wind Farm (Rokewood), as well as large scale farms at Mt Gellibrand, Mt Mercer and Berrybank
• Australia’s largest lithium storage battery at Moorabool Terminal Station near Geelong
• research and demonstration projects in hydrogen energy at Deakin University with trials of hydrogen buses, pipe network testing and fuel cells; a solar microgrid will power the Geelong Deakin campus by 2025
• Establishment of the Geelong Hydrogen Cluster to generate start ups in the sector
• Australia’s first Renewable Organics Network pioneered by Barwon Water. Partnering with private industry and G21 councils, the network uses agricultural by-products from municipal and industrial organic waste to produce dispatchable renewable energy
• G21’s five councils will run their operations with 100% renewable energy, cutting municipal costs and emissions, via power purchase agreements
• Barwon Water, Barwon Health and GeelongPort are partners in a regional renewable 10-year power purchase agreement
• strong uptake of community solar and battery programs.

Circular Economy

The five G21 municipalities are collectively seeking further commercial opportunities to play a major role in the circular economy, with a view to becoming a significant Victorian hub for downstream waste processing and resource recovery.

Cleantech Innovation

The City of Greater Geelong, in partnership with the Geelong Manufacturing Council, is the proponent of Cleantech Innovations Geelong, a market development program co-funded by the Victorian Government.

The program has aided the expansion of more than 10 local cleantech businesses. It is now seeking to create a regional cleantech centre of excellence. A new round of funding is required to continue this work.

Geelong Hydrogen Hub

GeelongPort is investing $100 million to establish the Geelong Hydrogen Hub, a production and distribution facility for green hydrogen that will accelerate Victoria’s transition to clean energy and net zero emissions.

Partnering with CAC-H2 as the Hub’s foundation developer, GeelongPort is seeking further expressions of interest from energy manufacturers and retailers and local businesses.

What G21 needs

• $15 million to build a Regional Waste, Resource Recovery and Reuse Hub to establish G21 circular economy, stabilise costs in the waste industry and reduce landfill.
• $5 million to accelerate current and new G21 region projects that focus on clean energy, clean tech, circular economy investment attraction and transformation in manufacturing.
• Additional funds for the RON to boost renewable energy production and local manufacturing content.
• $500,000 to extend Cleantech Innovations program and expand throughout the G21 region.
• Establish G21 as a centre of excellence for clean technologies.

A commitment to embed GROW training, employment and procurement principles in all government projects within the region.