In 2017 the Foundation pledged support to the Energy Innovation Cooperative totalling $60,000 to underpin the Old Energy New Energy project at the Wonthaggi State Coal Mine.

The result of this investment is a solar and battery array of 91 kW of solar panels and 41 kWh battery storage at the State Coal Mine in Wonthaggi. This system will produce 127 MW of clean power per annum. That’s an offset of 127 tonnes of CO2 annually; the equivalent to taking 37 petrol cars off the road. It is more than the current annual consumption of the Wonthaggi State Coal Mine  (112MW.)

This installation will provide ongoing funds for community projects through the Southern CORE (Community Owned Renewable Energy) Fund. Income provided to Energy Innovation Co-op by the sale of electricity to Parks Victoria will further support community groups to install renewable energy and energy efficiency measures, helping them cut power bills and reduce carbon emissions.

It is through many small donations, as well as bequests and funding from partners that enable the Foundation to build its reserves to a sustainable level allowing it to get behind social enterprises like the Energy Innovation Cooperative. The Foundation is proud to have been an enabler for this initiative.