EAGA is working with Councils across Victoria to assist businesses to purchase low-cost renewable energy and cut their emissions.
The Business Renewables Buying Group is a council led procurement process for medium to large electricity consumers to enter into renewable energy Power Purchase Agreements (PPA). This project is being led by the South East Councils Climate Change Alliance (SECCCA) and being rolled out across Victoria. The approach leverages the experience of Councils gained through the successful Melbourne Renewable Energy Project (MREP), MREP 2, and Victorian Electricity Collaboration projects.
Two successful buying groups have been formed across 2023/24, with a third group forming in the second half of 2025.
An impact evaluation of the program was completed in November 2025. Key findings included:
- BRBG improves business access to renewables, reduces barriers to market entry and delivers clear financial benefits.
- Program continuity is critical to ensure consistent buying group opportunities can be offered over time. This will help to overcome challenges of aligning electricity contract timing across different businesses and complex internal decision-making processes.
- Business education and engagement are crucial aspects of the program. BRBG strengthens business understanding of the energy market and supports decarbonisation planning (even for those that don’t join a buying group). It is recommended that BRBG education collateral be used more widely across council business support activities.
- The model of relying on ongoing council funding is problematic, but councils have played a pivotal enabling role by building community confidence and supporting business outreach. Future funding models (e.g. corporate sector, Federal Government) should still centre local presence and engagement. The role of councils should be considered in future program planning.
Read the impact evaluation report.
What is the Business Renewables Buying Group?
The Business Renewables Buying Group is designed to bring together a Buying Group of like-minded local businesses. With Council support, the group will work collectively to scale up their buying power whilst cutting complexity, time, and cost associated with going 100% renewable.
Why join the Business Renewables Buying Group?
- Improved market response for your businesses, with more options and potential price benefits due to increased load
- Ability to work with others who are going through similar decisions to compare considerations and support each other
- Reduced project costs and staff time by spreading the workload across the group
- The process is led by an experienced facilitator, with access to specialist strategic advice.
What are the benefits of a renewable power purchase agreement for your business?
- Cost effective way to reduce emissions and deliver on your strategic goals
- Long term and stable pricing provide budget certainty and reduces exposure to energy market volatility
- Avoid repeated internal procurement processes over the duration of the PPA contract
- Participation in this project and renewable energy purchase can provide Reputation, branding and leadership benefits
- Opportunity to directly support the renewable energy industry.
Register your expression of interest to join
We are now seeking expressions of interest from businesses to participate in the Business Renewables Buying Group.
To be eligible you must be:
- a medium to large energy user (spend over $100,000 per annum)
- be open to signing a long term (+5 year) renewable electricity supply agreement.
There is no initial upfront cost. Energy and legal advice costs will be determined as groups of businesses form.