Vicgrid
Vicgrid
is a Victorian government entity setup to try and regulate the implementation
of renewable energy zones. This entity has been setup post after a number of
projects have already been given planning permits and or are already completed.
“The horse has already bolted”.
This entity
should have been setup some years ago. Vicgrid are
still working through their terms of references and also what function they
will play in the renewable energy zone in the area of regulation, community consultation
and enforcement of regulations and governance.
REZ
As a result
of the creation of Vicgrid one of its first tasks
along with the Victorian Government was to create a Renewable Energy Zone.
Information can be obtained at the Vicgrid website with regards to the Renewable Energy Zone.
Many of the
communities along the REZ have felt that this was done with no consultation, no
feedback and the easiest path was to place the zone near existing high voltage power
lines. In a discussion with Alistair Parker at Goorambat we have received
conflicting reports, advice with regards to the overall plan when compared to
other areas, i.e. The Protect Dookie & the Goulburn Valley meetings.
While Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) are designed to coordinate transmission and scale, developers are actively proposing and building numerous solar, wind, and storage projects outside these zones.
In Victoria, 70% of approved renewable energy projects are located
outside the declared REZ areas. (Reported in The Weekly Times on the 10th of June 2026)
State
Funding Mechanisms: Initiatives like Victoria’s State Electricity Commission
(SEC) and the federal Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS) are actively backing
projects, including standalone big batteries, that are not strictly confined to
REZs.
VTP Scenario descriptions as "How is our government doing their planning" link to Vicgrid document.