A new initiative from Community Power Agency (CPA) is giving local communities a stronger role in Australia’s clean energy future. The organization has launched the Community Energy Incubator, a mentorship and investment program designed to help community groups take charge of developing their own mid-scale solar and battery projects.
Rather than limiting community participation to rooftop solar, the Incubator will equip local organizations to plan and deliver projects connected to the distribution network. Participants will gain access to expert mentorship, capacity-building programs, and seed funding to grow ideas from early concepts to investment-ready ventures.
Speaking about the initiative, Director of Community Power Agency Kim Mallee said, “Community groups are competing in a system built for big energy players, yet there’s huge momentum and demand from communities to participate in renewables themselves - and their role doesn’t have to be limited to rooftop scale.”
According to Mallee, the impact of these projects extends well beyond energy generation.
“Mid-scale community energy projects are a triple win. They unlock the ‘missing middle’ of the distribution network, making use of existing, under-utilised infrastructure. They put locals in the driver’s seat, giving communities the ownership and agency they’ve been calling for. And by centering community benefits and creating real opportunities for locals, these projects foster social licence,” she added.
Since its founding in 2011, CPA has worked with over 50 community groups across Australia to develop clean energy initiatives. Despite this growing interest, projects that sit between small rooftop systems and large-scale solar farms have struggled to gain momentum, often due to gaps in technical expertise, financing, and regulatory support.
The Community Energy Incubator aims to fill that void by removing participation barriers, improving local capability and demonstrating both grid and social benefits.
The initiative is already drawing support from long-time community energy advocates, such as the Southcoast Health and Sustainability Alliance (SHASA), which has championed local solar projects in the Eurobodalla region for more than a decade.
“Our community has wanted to develop a mid-scale solar farm for years, but there’s no support to level the playing field in the utility-scale space,” said Kathryn Maxwell, President of SHASA. “The Incubator is exactly what’s needed - practical, hands-on support to help communities realise their energy ambitions.”
Expressions of interest are now open to community groups, councils, and local partnerships across the National Electricity Market.
Applications close on Friday, 16 January 2026. For more information, please visit this link.
