NEWCASTLE council will aim to power up access to electrification and renewables in a move designed to support those struggling with rising energy costs.
Expressions of interest are being sought from service providers to deliver a 'bulk buy' community renewables program for homeowners, landlords and small businesses through the supply and installation of solar panels, batteries and electric vehicle chargers.
City of Newcastle Planning and Environment executive director Michelle Bisson said the scheme is the next initiative in the council's Empowering Newcastle program.
"We're working with residents, businesses, schools, and community groups to switch to renewable energy, electrify, and create a net zero future," she said.
"Almost half of Newcastle's community emissions are from non-renewable electricity so increasing renewable energy uptake in households and businesses will lead to a significant reduction in emissions, while providing economic and social benefits.
"Just under 30 per cent of residential buildings in Newcastle have solar, which is the lowest uptake of all councils in the Hunter and below the state average of 35 percent."
The bulk buy program is designed to help Novocastrians access products and suppliers that have been carefully vetted, while educating them on the long-term financial benefits of renewables.
Participants can earn money by exporting their excess energy to the grid during peak demand periods.
Labor Cr Elizabeth Adamczyk said "no matter how you carve it" the electrification of all homes is necessary.
"It has been long proven by research that the ability to participate in electrification and climate change retrofitting is limited to two groups, the poorest, such as people that live in government-owned dwellings and are benefiting from government-led retrofitting of public housing ... and those who are able to act," she said.
"Who have the means to adopt privately-led retrofit, the capacity to access either finance, low or no finance loans, which still do require hoops to jump through and making the required payments to access those government subsidies."
Cr Adamczyk said the remaining 70 per cent or so are in the "missing middle", the homeowners and renters only just able to meet their cost of living or are in housing stress.
Newcastle council was the first in the country to move to 100 per cent renewable energy for its operations in January 2020.
The initiative is backed by a public call for tenders to implement a Newcastle Community Renewable Energy Bulk Buy Program.
The program aims to expand access to affordable renewable energy for Newcastle residents through economies of scale for bulk buy of solar panel and battery installations with options for electric vehicle chargers, virtual power plant access and low or no-interest finance options.
The motion to councillors on Tuesday noted that more than 70 per cent of Newcastle homes have not made the switch to renewable energy or electrified homes.
Greens Cr Charlotte McCabe said Australia is renowned for having housing that is hot in summer and cold in winter that is not built to suit the environment.
"'That has the consequence of being extremely uncomfortable for people, or at the furthest extreme unlivable, and that needs to be addressed by building codes that require improvement of housing performance so that people can live comfortable lives," she said.
"It will directly impact on their power bills, which we know is one of the key parts of people's cost of living pressures, and these electrification movements, which are absolutely the future, will help people to live more comfortable lives."
Expressions of Interest for service providers interested in the Newcastle Community Renewable Energy Bulk Buy Program are open until 2pm, November 19.
The program is expected to launch in the first half of 2025 after the service providers are selected.
