Solar and battery installations, energy education, environmental projects and community resilience initiatives are among the projects to receive support through Essential Energy’s 2026 Essential Grants program.

Thirteen community groups across regional NSW have been announced as recipients of the annual program, which is investing in local non-profit organisations working to drive meaningful environmental and social change in their communities.

The Essential Grants program offers grants of up to $15,000 for community projects that provide a positive impact across regional, rural and remote NSW. Recipients are selected across Essential Energy’s operating area for the benefits they provide to their local community through initiatives supporting sustainability and climate adaptation, social impact or the energy transition.

This year’s recipients are responding to the very real challenges facing regional communities, from rising living costs and energy bills to the impacts of extreme weather and social challenges. Through practical, community-led projects, this investment will help create stronger, more sustainable futures.

Essential Energy’s Head of Sustainability, Sophie Mackinnon, said the program is an investment in communities, backing practical local projects that deliver lasting benefits.

“These grants are an investment in communities, supporting local groups that know what their region needs and are getting on with delivering practical solutions, whether that’s reducing energy costs, improving local resilience or creating new opportunities for the people they support,” Sophie said.

“What stands out in this year’s recipients is the diversity of projects and the shared commitment to making a lasting difference in local communities. From sustainability and climate adaptation initiatives to services supporting vulnerable people, these organisations are helping build resilience in their communities across regional New South Wales."

The recipients of the Essential Grants program are as follows:

Down The Track Youth Enterprises Limited, Lake Cargelligo: Down The Track will install a rooftop solar system at its youth headquarters to reduce operational costs and improve long-term sustainability. The organisation delivers trauma-informed youth development, diversion and social enterprise programs for young people facing challenges in a small rural community.

Lifeline Regional SA and Far West NSW, Broken Hill: Lifeline’s Broken Hill Tip Shop will purchase a commercial-grade plastic granulator to recycle discarded plastic into reusable products for sale. The initiative will divert more waste from landfill while helping support free, face-to-face mental health and suicide prevention counselling in the region.

Glen Food Hub, Glen Innes: Glen Food Hub will install a 32.61kWh battery storage system and hybrid inverter to store excess solar energy generated at its facility and reduce electricity costs. The volunteer-run food relief service supports around 140 households each week and up to 800 registered families across the New England region.

Red Gum House, Tamworth: Red Gum House will electrify its outdoor meals area at the Ronald McDonald House in Tamworth with a commercial-grade electric barbecue system, replacing outdated gas units as part of a broader move toward electrification. The facility provides accommodation, meals and wraparound support for families with sick children receiving treatment far from home.

Wagga Wagga Rescue Squad, Wagga Wagga: The volunteer emergency service organisation will install a solar and battery system to reduce electricity costs and strengthen operational resilience during power outages and natural disasters. The squad provides 24/7 specialist rescue capabilities across Wagga Wagga and surrounding districts.

Mid-Richmond Neighbourhood Centre, Evans Head: Mid-Richmond Neighbourhood Centre is delivering “Bright Savers”, a series of face-to-face sessions to help community members understand their electricity bills and reduce energy use at home. The project will include free LED bulb replacements and door draft stoppers for attendees across Coraki, Woodburn and Evans Head, supporting communities still recovering from the 2022 floods.

Burrell Creek Youth and Community Association Inc, Burrell Creek: The group will install solar and battery storage at Burrell Creek Hall to transform it into a sustainable community power hub and local resilience centre. The volunteer-run hall is the heart of community life in the rural locality and plays an important role in emergency preparedness, education and connection.

Wirraminna Environmental Education Centre, Burrumbuttock: WEEC is a volunteer-led group providing hands-on environmental education, sustainability programs and nature-based learning experiences. The centre delivers excursions for schools, workshops for community groups and volunteer-led conservation activities focused on biodiversity, land stewardship and sustainable living, improving resilience and reducing reliance on grid electricity. The project will improve the centre’s resilience during unplanned outages but also serve to further educate the community by showing renewable energy in action.

WIRES Mid-South Coast Branch, Eurobodalla: WIRES will purchase two specialised bat intensive care units to strengthen wildlife rescue capacity across the Eurobodalla region. The equipment will provide a controlled, safe and hygienic environment for injured, orphaned and heat-stressed bats as local carers respond to increasing demand.

Towamba Community Progress Association Inc, Towamba: The community association will install a new transmitter and antenna mast at Towamba’s volunteer-run 88FM radio station to improve local communications and disaster preparedness. The station has long played an important role in sharing local information and could help relay fire updates during future emergencies.

Country Women’s Association of NSW, Menindee: The CWA Hall in Menindee will install solar panels to reduce emissions and help ensure the community facility remains sustainable into the future. Savings from the project will support the organisation’s ongoing programs, events and services for local women, children and the wider community.

Orange and District Early Education Program, Orange: A 16.25kW solar energy system will be installed at the organisation’s Child and Family Community Hub to reduce emissions and lower operating costs. The not-for-profit provides early childhood education, early intervention, family support and allied health services to children and families across Orange and the wider Central West.

Girilambone and District Community Association, Girilambone: The association will install standalone solar lighting at Girilambone CWA Park to improve safety, accessibility and emergency preparedness. The park is a key community meeting place and informal muster point during bushfires, floods and extreme heat events in the small western NSW town.

Since 2018, Essential Energy has contributed more than $1 million to over 1,500 community groups through the previous Community Choices and Community Halls programs. The Essential Grants program continues this support, focusing on initiatives that provide real benefits for the communities in which we live and work across New South Wales.

Broken Hill Lifeline is a recipient of an Essential Grant.