Yarra Energy Foundation

What Yarra Energy Foundation does

Yarra Energy Foundation (YEF) is an independent Australian not-for-profit established in 2010 by Yarra City Council, headquartered in Fitzroy, Victoria. The organisation operates as a specialist energy transition consultancy that designs, delivers, and evaluates programs for local governments, state and federal government departments, electricity network operators, energy retailers, and customer advocacy groups, with a secondary focus on direct residential engagement through council-commissioned solar and electrification programs.

YEF's core product portfolio centres on community battery infrastructure and residential electrification program delivery. Its two flagship community batteries are the Fitzroy North unit (FN1, 110kW/309kWh Pixii PowerShaper BESS, Victoria's first inner-urban community battery, launched June 2022) and the Clifton Hill unit (front-of-meter with dual 60kW DC EV chargers, launched May 2026). The technology stack combines grid-connected battery storage with smart operating software for charge/discharge scheduling, wholesale arbitrage, and demand response. YEF also operates branded municipal programs including Hume Home Energy Upgrades, Love Bayside, Darebin Energy Upgrades, the Melbourne Community Electrification Roadshow, and Sport & Spark (12 sporting clubs), plus the Wired for Tomorrow all-electric precinct initiative and free online neighbourhood battery training developed for the Victorian Government.

The business model is hybrid non-profit: core funding from Yarra City Council, supplemented by competitive state and federal grants (notably the Victorian Government's Neighbourhood Battery Initiative and the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change), fee-for-service consulting on feasibility, business cases, and project coordination, and end-to-end program delivery contracts with local councils where YEF manages vetted supplier panels and customer service on behalf of residents. Residential customers access services at no direct cost to them, with rebates (Solar Victoria, Victorian Energy Upgrades, SRES) applied by installers at point of sale. Headcount is 11-50 employees under CEO Dean Kline, with governance by an independent Board of Directors that expanded in June 2026.

Name

Yarra Energy Foundation

Legal name

Yarra Energy Foundation

Website

https://yef.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Yarra Energy Foundation is a Victoria-based not-for-profit consultancy that designs and delivers community battery projects, residential electrification programs, and energy transition advisory services for local councils, state and federal governments, network operators, and communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Clean Energy Consulting and Community Battery Services

NAICS

Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211)

SIC

Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro primary industry

Utility-Scale BESS Project Development & Ownership (IPP/Developer) (EUAFAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Solar EPC & Construction (Utility-Scale, Rooftop, Balance of System) (EUAMABAB), Energy Storage & Microgrid Electrical Infrastructure (BESS, Controls) (IMAFAHAE)

Keywords

• Community battery projects
• Solar electrification programs
• Clean energy consulting
• Neighbourhood energy storage
• Residential electrification services

Headquarters

HQ city

Fitzroy

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Core Funding and Grants: Core funding and support from Yarra City Council, supplemented by grants from Victorian Government through programs like the Neighbourhood Battery Initiative ($750,000 for Clifton Hill) and Sustainability Victoria funding for Melbourne Community Electrification Roadshow.
2. Professional Consulting Services: Fee-for-service consulting and advisory services provided to local governments, state and federal government departments, network distribution businesses, energy retailers, and customer advocacy organisations for project design, delivery, feasibility studies, and training.
3. Program Delivery Services: End-to-end program design, setup, launch, delivery and reporting for solar and electrification programs on behalf of partner councils, including supplier management, customer service, and energy literacy.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

YEF designs, develops, and operates community (neighbourhood) battery energy storage projects in inner-urban Melbourne and delivers end-to-end solar and residential electrification programs on behalf of local government councils. It also sells professional advisory and training services to governments, network businesses, energy retailers, and customer advocacy organisations, including feasibility studies, business cases, financial modelling, project coordination, and free online training developed for the Victorian Government.

Product overview

Yarra Energy Foundation is a not-for-profit consultancy offering community battery installations and solar/electrification program delivery services. The core portfolio includes community battery projects (Fitzroy North, Clifton Hill, Richmond, Altona, Manor Lakes, Torquay) that store and redistribute excess solar energy, complemented by the Neighbourhood Battery Training program developed for the Victorian Government. The Solar & Electrification Programs include branded municipal initiatives like the Melbourne Community Electrification Roadshow, Sport & Spark, and council-specific programs (Hume Home Energy Upgrades, Love Bayside, Darebin Energy Upgrades), alongside the Wired for Tomorrow all-electric precinct initiative. Community Battery Consulting & Advisory Services provide feasibility studies, business cases, and project coordination to support implementation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fitzroy North Community Battery Victoria's first inner-urban community battery launched in June 2022, a 110kW/309kWh PowerShaper Battery Energy Storage System that stores excess solar energy from local rooftops and redistributes it during evening peak demand periods across up to 200 households on the local low-voltage network.
• Clifton Hill Neighbourhood Battery Front-of-meter neighbourhood battery installed at Collingwood Leisure Centre in Clifton Hill, featuring co-located accessible EV charging bays with dual 60kW DC chargers, designed to harmonise with public EV charging and reduce grid pressure.
• Neighbourhood Battery Training Free online training program developed for the Victorian Government covering foundational concepts of neighbourhood batteries, including problem context, operating a BESS, project implementation, and project development.
• Solar & Electrification Programs End-to-end programs helping residents switch to solar and electric appliances, including independent vetting of suppliers, program design, setup, delivery, and reporting for local governments.
• Melbourne Community Electrification Roadshow Coordinated Melbourne-wide series of community events between September 2025 and April 2026 to explain benefits of home electrification and help households access Victorian Government incentives.
• Sport & Spark Community engagement initiative partnering with 12 sports clubs across Hobsons Bay, Hume, Maribyrnong, Whittlesea, and Wyndham to deliver activities sparking conversations about home electrification through familiar sporting environments.
• Hume Home Energy Upgrades Program Program connecting Hume residents with reliable suppliers for rooftop solar, reverse cycle heating and cooling, hot water heat pumps, induction cooktops, draught proofing, and insulation upgrades.
• Love Bayside, Home Energy Upgrades Program Program supporting Bayside residents with rooftop solar and batteries, reverse cycle heating and cooling, hot water heat pumps, induction cooktops, insulation, and EV chargers.
• Darebin Energy Upgrades Program helping Darebin residents electrify and improve efficiency of homes or businesses with insulation, draught proofing, reverse cycle heating/cooling, hot water heat pumps, rooftop solar, home batteries, induction cooktops, and EV chargers.
• Wired for Tomorrow Visionary initiative funded by Yarra City Council to develop knowledge for accelerating all-electric precincts, with a focus on the postcode 3068 (North Fitzroy and Clifton Hill) to inspire community momentum for electrification.
• Community Battery Consulting & Advisory Services Professional services including feasibility studies, business cases, financial modelling, site identification and assessment, project coordination, procurement, and training for community battery projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• 86% reduction in CO2 emissions and $17,944 annual savings for apartment block hot water upgrade
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Yarra City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Established YEF as an independent not-for-profit in 2010. Provides core funding and support. Site owner for some projects (Collingwood Leisure Centre). Commissioned Wired for Tomorrow all-electric precinct initiative.
• CitiPowercoreTechnology or IntegrationNetwork distribution partner for Fitzroy North community battery. Selected site location on CitiPower-owned land at 193-205 McKean Street, Fitzroy North. Collaborated on grid connection and network constraint analysis.
• All Electric HomescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerVetted supplier for solar and electrification installations across multiple council programs including Darebin Energy Upgrades, Mornington Peninsula Home Energy Upgrades, and Brunswick apartment block project. Installed solar, heat pumps, and other electrification measures.
• Hume City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partner for Hume Home Energy Upgrades program. Previously delivered Hume Solar Roll-Out with 300+ installations. Council has done the hard work vetting supplier panels for residents.
• City of BaysidecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Love Bayside, Home Energy Upgrades program supporting residents with solar, batteries, reverse cycle heating and cooling, hot water heat pumps, induction cooktops, insulation and EV chargers.
• City of DarebincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Darebin Energy Upgrades program offering insulation, draught proofing, reverse cycle heating and cooling, hot water heat pumps, rooftop solar, home batteries, induction cooktops, EV chargers, and business energy upgrades.
• Mornington Peninsula ShirecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Home Energy Upgrades program with rooftop solar, solar batteries, induction cooktops, reverse cycle heating and cooling, and hot water heat pump systems.
• EnviroflexminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerVetted supplier for insulation installations through Darebin Energy Upgrades program.
• CleanTechnicaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia coverage partner for neighbourhood battery and EV charging initiatives, providing editorial coverage of YEF projects.
• Electrify YarracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity energy group in postcode 3068 supported through Wired for Tomorrow initiative. Emerged from Rewiring Australia and Electrify 2515 movements. Active partner for home battery and solar events.
• Local Community Energy GroupsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership network including Electrify Boroondara, Clean Energy Nillumbik, Repower Mornington Peninsula, Electrify Southside, Electrify Maribyrnong, and others for Melbourne Community Electrification Roadshow delivery.
• City of Yarra Disability Advisory CommitteeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsulted on EV charging station design for Clifton Hill project, providing guidance on accessibility features including lower charger height and wider parking spaces.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• AusNet Services: Victorian electricity distribution network operator with a dedicated New Energy division (BESS, clean mobility, SAPS) headed by YEF board director Gavin Lewis. Larger, vertically-integrated player in the same community battery and DER space with balance-sheet scale YEF lacks.
• AGL Energy: Major Australian energy retailer actively deploying community battery projects and household electrification offerings. Competes with YEF for council program partnerships and operates in the same residential electrification and DER category at national scale.

Emerging players

• SwitchDin: Australian DER orchestration and virtual power plant software provider enabling integration of solar, batteries and EV chargers. Comparable technology stack to YEF's community battery operating system and multi-asset orchestration use cases.
• Rewiring Australia: National electrification advocacy organisation driving household electrification policy; community groups partnered with YEF (Electrify Yarra, Electrify Boroondara) emerged from this movement. Mission-adjacent peer shaping the demand environment YEF serves.
• Reposit Power: Canberra-based DER and battery management software platform enabling behind-the-meter and front-of-meter battery optimisation. Comparable technology layer to YEF's community battery operating software and grid integration work.

Others

• Sustainability Victoria: Victian Government statutory authority that funds YEF's Melbourne Community Electrification Roadshow and other programs. Grant-provider/funder relationship but defines the policy and funding environment in which YEF operates.
• Pixii: Norwegian BESS manufacturer whose PowerShaper product is deployed in YEF's Fitzroy North community battery. Technology supplier relationship rather than competitor, but defines the underlying hardware stack of YEF's battery portfolio.
• ICLEI Oceania: Local government sustainability network for which YEF board director Amanda Stone serves as Board Chair. Ecosystem connector in the same council sustainability space where YEF delivers electrification programs.

Direct peers

• GreenSync: Australian DER orchestration platform helping utilities, retailers and network operators manage distributed energy resources including community batteries. YEF chair David Anstee was a founding employee. Operates in the same BESS/DER ecosystem with overlapping customers (network businesses, retailers).
• Moreland Energy Foundation (Positive Charge): Inner-northern Melbourne-based not-for-profit energy foundation focused on community energy and zero-carbon transition. Closest structural peer to YEF: similar NFP model, council-funded, delivers community energy and electrification programs in the same geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/yarra-energy-foundation
• Xx.com/_YEF
• Facebookfacebook.com/yarraenergyfoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Yarra Energy Foundation