Objectives
The Community Renewable Energy Fund (CREF) is currently delivering a community resilience programme of work to support targeted communities with their emergency planning and energy resilience needs.
Eligibility
- Community buildings, such as marae, places of worship, schools and community halls, used by the community in emergency events.
- Community buildings nominated by regional partners and government agencies.
- Target of 25% co-funding across the programme.
What this fund is for
The CREF community resilience programme of work is enhancing the emergency preparedness and energy resilience of targeted community buildings that are used by the community in the event of an emergency, disaster, or severe weather event.
Community buildings are often used in civil defence events to protect people during and immediately after emergency events. The fund’s investment in solar PV and battery systems for these buildings will provide communities with renewable energy for emergency events and for day-to-day use, resulting in lower energy costs.
How the fund works
EECA is not running a contestable open funding round for these grants. Suitable community buildings — marae, places of worship, schools, and community halls — are being identified and prioritised in collaboration with government agencies, local authorities, Civil Defence Emergency Management, and community and Māori organisations involved in emergency planning and energy resilience.
By the end of 2025, it is estimated 217 community resilience sites will have been selected to receive a solar PV and battery system. The average cost per site is $88,000, with an average capacity of 28kW for solar and 32kWh for battery stems.
Community resilience programme funded sites
As of February 2025, 67 sites impacted by the 2023 Auckland floods and Cyclone Gabrielle have been selected to receive funding for solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery systems.
Throughout 2025, EECA is partnering with regional partners in Northland, Tairawhiti, Hawke's Bay, Tararua, Wairarapa, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Marlborough, Nelson, Tasman and West Coast to deliver an estimated further 150 community buildings with solar PV and battery systems.
Sites confirmed to receive grants are published below. This list is regularly updated as sites are confirmed.
CREF first funding package projects
Prior to the commencement of the community resilience programme, a total of $1.12 million in funding was awarded to five community renewable energy projects in 2023.
Contact
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