A Victorian Government website listing applications for solar farms shows most installations are being built in this region, with the 12 largest due to generate 100 megawatts or more of power from each site.
This overhaul comes in the form of six ‘renewable energy zones’ (REZs) proposed by the government — one will be centred on Shepparton, while another will run from Kerang to Mildura.
The government plans to beef up network capacity in these REZs in an effort to attract investors and grow parts of Victoria into green energy hubs.
Among the projects proposed are $757 million worth of solar batteries in Shepparton, allowing the grid to absorb the midday solar spike and discharge energy in the evenings, and a $720 million overhead power line from Kerang to Red Cliffs (Mildura).
In 2020, the Clean Energy Council estimated the total annual payments to rural landholders and community funds from solar farms at more than $28 million per year across Australia.
Yet, the plan has identified community concerns, including that solar farms in northern Victoria will be build on agricultural land, as potential hurdles.
An entirely new government body, called VicGrid, will also be created to help government "actively engage" with regional communities and ensure "appropriate and beneficial development" in each REZ.
Agriculture Victoria said the REZs updates would help support growth in a farming sector that has struggled under the heel of ballooning energy bills in recent years.
The department is encouraging farmers to read the directions paper and highlight ways agriculture could benefit from the millions in investments, with any potential projects to be put forward to VicGrid by Agriculture Victoria.
A lack of grid capacity was an obstacle when Hamish Crawford, who runs a 500-head dairy farm in Tatura which consumes 120,000 kW per year, applied for a Victorian energy efficiency grant.
Last year he attempted to use a grant to secure a 32 kW solar system on his dairy, but was granted a 6 kW system instead due to concerns the 32 kW system would feed too much excess power into the grid.
“A 6 kW PV system is more suitable to a residential house than a dairy farm,” Mr Crawford said.
“Other farms were successful in getting 33 to 34 kW systems in the same round … my dad’s rotary farm in Fenton Hall even got a 33 kW system under the same round.”
Mr Crawford's experience isn't the norm, and almost a year after being approved for a 6 kW system, the Victorian Government has called to say he could resubmit for the 32 kW system.
“I am waiting for a response, hopefully it gets approved. I haven’t installed the 6 kW system yet — luckily,” he said.
Groups like Farmers for Climate Action have been championing farmer adoption of renewables for years.
FCA chair and sheep farmer Charlie Pell hosts wind turbines on his NSW property, giving him a slice in what he calls a "new and lucrative export industry".
"When local communities become active participants in the transformation and invest in renewable energy projects or build and own their own power, it means profits stay within the community,” Mr Pell said.
Read the directions paper here: www.energy.vic.gov.au/renewable-energy/renewable-energy-zones
