This grant round marks the fifth year of the fund which has supported 22 community-led initiatives and projects to date through over $135,000 worth of grants.

Up to $30,000 in funding is available again this year to eligible organisations looking to make a positive contribution to the community. Local groups working to promote sustainable environmental outcomes, support skills and training, and improve community health, safety, and wellbeing are encouraged to apply.

FRV Australia’s Chief Executive Officer, Carlo Frigerio, said he has been impressed by the calibre of applications each year and the enthusiasm of the community in response to the program.

“Grassroots organisations have worked diligently to conceive and implement initiatives that improve the liveability and vitality of the region. We’re delighted to be able to support the hard work, talent, and leadership of these groups who respond to the needs and interests of their communities,” he said.

“It’s been a privilege to have supported such a diverse range of locally led initiatives in Winton, Benalla, and surrounding communities over the past four years of the program. FRV Australia is humbled to have been able to play small part in delivering these important projects.”

Last year’s Community Grants Program saw four community organisations awarded a share of $30,000. Recipients used the funds to deliver new social inclusion events and activities, build 250 community garden beds, provide peer support training to local healthcare providers, strengthen crisis support resources and facilities, and enhance social connection through cooking classes for widowed community members.

Now in its fourth year of operation, the Winton Solar Farm recently became one of the renewable energy projects supported through the Victorian Renewable Energy Target (VRET) auction scheme, to supply clean energy to power state government operations via the State Electricity Commission (SEC). This milestone marks the return of the SEC to powering Victoria’s public sector with clean energy, and highlights Winton’s role in supporting the energy transition.

Applications for the 2025 Winton Solar Farm Community Grants Program will open next Monday 30 June 2025. FRV Australia looks forward to welcoming another competitive round of grant applications.

For more information about the Winton Solar Farm and Community Grants Program and to apply, please visit www.wintonsolarfarm.com.

ENDS

About the Winton Solar Farm

Winton Solar Farm features the latest in large-scale solar technology to capture solar energy and convert this into electricity for use by homes and businesses. The Project received Planning Approval in early 2018 and is has been built on a private 250-hectare site approximately 25km southwest of Wangaratta. This location is well suited to a solar farm, with very high levels of sunlight and proximity to the existing electricity grid.

The solar farm will also contribute to the achievement of Victoria’s renewable energy target. Following a 2018 public tender process, Winton Solar Farm was awarded a 15-year support agreement by the State Government for clean energy generated by the project. The tender was part of the Government’s Victorian Renewable Energy Target (VRET) to source 25 percent of its electricity production from renewables by 2020 increasing to 50% by 2030.

Construction of the 85-megawatt (MW) Solar Farm was completed in 2021, and the asset is now up and running. The solar farm has an operating life of around 30 years.

About FRV Services

FRV Australia is one of the largest solar developers, asset owners and renewable energy platforms in Australia and one of the first solar developers to enter the Australian market and the first company to deliver a project-financed large scale solar farm in Australia with the Royalla Solar Farm near Canberra operating since August 2014. The company has developed almost 800MWdc of Australian PV assets built or under construction across 9 projects for a total project investment value of over 1 billion dollars. The activities are based in Sydney and the company has a multidisciplinary team of over 40 employees. With the ambition to continue leading the global transition to a more sustainable energy future. FRV Australia has evolved from being just a developer to becoming an independent power producer.

The company is owned by Abdul Latif Jameel Energy, a world leader in the development of sustainable energy solutions (51%) and OMERS, one of Canada’s largest defined benefit pension plans (49%); the OMERS stake is managed by OMERS Infrastructure, a global leader in infrastructure investing.

For more information, please contact Eleni Sgardelis – 0435 861 682

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Recipients will receive a share of $30,000 to start new projects that will enhance liveability, boost community vitality and bring positive benefits to local residents.

Winners of the 2024 Winton Solar Farm Community Grants and funded projects are:

• Room at the Table – to promote and deliver social inclusion events and activities for the region
• Benalla Health –to provide 250 garden beds to the community through the Benalla Grow Your Own project
• Benalla Health – to train 10 Peer Supporters in managing distress, mental health, domestic and family violence, bullying and harassment, self-care, grief and loss, and substance use and addiction
• Benalla Homelessness Response Group – to establish permanent storage lockers for the community, a 24-hour food relief pantry and a create a pocket guide for crisis support in Benalla
• U3A Benalla – to install a stove at Benalla Seniors Community Centre to deliver cooking classes for widowed community members and enhance social connection

Through local grants and partnerships, FRV Australia has now contributed over $200,000 to the community in support of community-led projects and initiatives. FRV Australia’s Chief Executive Officer, Carlo Frigerio, said he is pleased to see FRV share the benefits of renewable energy with the broader community through the Winton Solar Farm Grant program.

“The Winton Solar Farm Community Grants Program continues to be an important part of our commitment to deliver social value alongside our core work of providing utility-scale renewable energy,” he said.

“2024 marks another competitive year for our Grants program, with many strong applications from local groups. We look forward to seeing these important projects take shape and drive benefits for the community in the coming months.”

FRV Australia would like to thank the community for their participation and interest in the program this year. More information will be made available when the program returns again in 2025.

For more information about the Winton Solar Farm and Community Grants Program please visit www.wintonsolarfarm.com.

ENDS

About the Winton Solar Farm

Winton Solar Farm features the latest in large-scale solar technology to capture solar energy and convert this into electricity for use by homes and businesses. The Project received Planning Approval in early 2018 and is has been built on a private 250-hectare site approximately 25km southwest of Wangaratta. This location is well suited to a solar farm, with very high levels of sunlight and proximity to the existing electricity grid.

The solar farm will also contribute to the achievement of Victoria’s renewable energy target. Following a 2018 public tender process, Winton Solar Farm was awarded a 15-year support agreement by the State Government for clean energy generated by the project. The tender was part of the Government’s Victorian Renewable Energy Target (VRET) to source 25 percent of its electricity production from renewables by 2020 increasing to 50% by 2030.

Construction of the 85-megawatt (MW) Solar Farm was completed in 2021, and the asset is now up and running. The solar farm has an operating life of around 30 years.

About FRV Services

FRV Australia is one of the largest solar developers, asset owners and renewable energy platforms in Australia and one of the first solar developers to enter the Australian market and the first company to deliver a project-financed large scale solar farm in Australia with the Royalla Solar Farm near Canberra operating since August 2014. The company has developed almost 800MWdc of Australian PV assets built or under construction across 9 projects for a total project investment value of over 1 billion dollars. The activities are based in Sydney and the company has a multidisciplinary team of over 40 employees. With the ambition to continue leading the global transition to a more sustainable energy future. FRV Australia has evolved from being just a developer to becoming an independent power producer.

The company is owned by Abdul Latif Jameel Energy, a world leader in the development of sustainable energy solutions (51%) and OMERS, one of Canada’s largest defined benefit pension plans (49%); the OMERS stake is managed by OMERS Infrastructure, a global leader in infrastructure investing.

For more information, please contact Eleni Sgardelis – 0435 861 682

The post Winton Solar Farm investing in the local community appeared first on FRV Winton Solar Farm.

Both have been recipients of the recent Community Grants Program, with funding allocated to support community lead initiatives.

The Benalla Hockey Club grant will fund three portable, heavy duty gazebos to protect spectators at training and Fun Summer Hockey in Benalla.

 FRV have established the Winton Solar Farm Community Grants Program as part of their commitment to support local community groups and deliver benefits to the region.

At Glenrowan Primary School, works to upgrade their cooking learning classroom are complete. School parents and community volunteers all helped to install new equipment, improving the learning environment for students.

Other recipients of this years $35,000 Community Grants Fund were Winton Primary School, to develop a new sustainable outdoor kitchen garden and NE tracks to support their Hands on Trades day event, and provide funding for their ACRE yourh entrepreneurship program.

Asset Manager Fernando Altmann said “Sharing benefits of the project with the Winton Community is fundamental”

The $35,000 Community Grants Program gives back to the community who have been so welcoming of the project, and support the region in the process” he said

FRV has contributed $120,000 to local community initiatives to date and is excited to be working with the local community on projects that are important to them.

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FRV has completed detailed assessments of possible impacts on near neighbours such as glare and stormwater runoff during planning for the project. We are also engaging with neighbours to share information about construction as it progresses and manage any impacts wherever possible.

What about the local environment?

The endangered Regent Honeyeater is known to be present in the area. A Vegetation Protection Overlay applies onsite to protect the habitat for this species. We will preserve large remnants of native trees on the site, retain important nesting trees and avoid plantings completed by the Regent Honeyeater Project team to preserve habitat for this important species. Construction and operation of the Winton Solar Farm will have little impact on surrounding waterways.

FRV will also work in partnership with the Regent Honeyeater Project team to fund and plant more habitat corridors within the region.

Community Value

Construction of the Winton Solar Farm will bring considerable investment to the region. The solar farm will also create a new, sustainable industry that will complement the existing agricultural industry. We are keen for local business to be involved in providing a range of services such as electrical work, earthworks, transport, materials, fencing and hospitality during Winton Solar Farm’s construction and operation stages.  We will also look to provide training to local workers – especially younger workers – to ensure specialist skills developed in the course of the project’s construction stay in the area.

How can I get involved?

We are regularly in contact with residents and stakeholders. To register your interest in the project, please send us an email via the contact us page.

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