Business Renewables Buying Group
We're joining together with councils across Victoria to assist businesses to purchase renewable energy and cut their emissions.
If you are a large market energy consumer and want to join a group to purchase 100% renewable electricity, please email sustainability@hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au or complete the Expression of Interest form
Upcoming webinar
Business Renewables Buying Group – information webinar
The Business Renewables Buying Group is running a session to provide education and support for medium to large electricity consumers to transition to renewable electricity. We invite Victorian businesses interested in mapping their transition to renewable energy along to the free webinar, you will also learn more about the Business Renewables Buying Group, who it will be suitable for and if it will likely work for your business.
Thursday 22 February, 11am to 12pm
Register now
What is the Business Renewables Buying Group?
The Business Renewables Buying Group is designed to bring together a group of like-minded businesses seeking to switch to 100% renewable electricity. With the support of an external facilitator, the group will work collectively to scale up their buying power whilst cutting complexity, time, and cost associated with going 100% renewable.
The Business Renewable Buying Group is open to businesses across Victoria consuming over 500mWh per annum of electricity (spending ~$100,000 per annum).
Through the Business Renewables Buying Group we are striving to build and refine this model and create a repeatable and scalable group purchasing method to support more businesses to join a renewable future.
Why join the Business Renewables Buying group?
- Improved market response for your businesses, with more options and potential price benefits due to increased load
- Ability to work with others who are going through similar decisions to compare considerations and support each other
- Reduced project costs and staff time by spreading the workload across the group
- The process is led by an experienced facilitator, with access to specialist strategic advice.
What are the benefits for your business?
- Cost effective way to reduce emissions and deliver on your strategic goals
- Long term and stable pricing provide budget certainty and reduces exposure to energy market volatility
- Avoid repeated internal procurement processes over the duration of the PPA contract
- Participation in this project and renewable energy purchase can provide reputation, branding and leadership benefits
- Opportunity to directly support the renewable energy industry.
Eligibility
This project is initiated by Yarra City Council and supported by Hobsons Bay City Council, and will be available to all Victorian business who qualify for the large electricity market.
Other common questions
WHAT IS A GROUP RENEWABLE POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT?
- A PPA is a long-term agreement for an energy buyer to purchase a quantity of electricity generated by an off-site renewable energy project, such as a solar or wind farm
- The group element simply refers to more than one business or organisation pooling their electricity demand collectively to get a better outcome.
WHO IS THE FACILITATOR?
The participating councils have run a competitive process to appoint 1Circle as the Facilitator to actively support the Business Buying Group.
1Circle is highly experienced with a successful track record of arranging group buys, including the pilot program for the Business Renewables Buying Group.
The facilitator will:
- Provide an initial overview of the benefits to your business
- Coordinate group meetings and engagement
- Advise on and contract the ‘energy advisor’ and ‘legal counsel’ on behalf of the group
- Prepare and release tender documents on behalf of the group
- Assist with analysis of offers and support decision making for participating businesses.
WHY ARE COUNCILS GETTING INVOLVED?
- Victorian councils lead the establishment of three landmark agreements: Melbourne Renewable Energy Project (MREP) 1 & 2 and the Victorian Energy Collaboration (VECO).
- Councils’ experience with both MREP and VECO projects highlights the essential need for a project facilitator to support and coordinate all the parties in switching to renewable electricity and ensuring a successful outcome.
- Victorian Councils are uniquely placed to leverage their experience and capabilities to support businesses to transition to Renewable Electricity. They will engage an independent 'facilitator" to assist businesses and provide the option for participation in a Renewable Energy buying group.
HOW DO I FIND OUT MORE?
You can get in touch with Hobsons Bay City Council's Sustainability team: