Bendigo Startups Push Green Tech Projects in Current Local Scene

Bendigo startup VoltForge secured city council permits on July 9 to install its first pilot solar microgrid along Hargreaves Street in the CBD.

The project arrives as Victoria state energy prices rose 14 percent year over year through June, pushing households and small businesses to seek cheaper local power sources. National targets now require 82 percent renewable electricity by 2030, and Bendigo firms see immediate commercial openings in hardware that cuts grid reliance.

Work underway at two central sites

VoltForge operates from a converted warehouse at 42 View Street where its team tests battery packs rated for 48-hour backup. A second group, LeafCycle, runs a materials lab inside the Bendigo Innovation Centre on Williamson Street. LeafCycle focuses on turning construction waste into insulation panels that meet new building code standards introduced in March.

Both outfits draw from the same early-stage grant pool managed by the Bendigo Regional Development Corporation. The corporation opened applications for its 2026 green round on May 15 and closed them June 30 after receiving 27 submissions.

LeafCycle reported a 22 percent reduction in material costs during its most recent prototype run completed last week. VoltForge lists its residential microgrid package at $14,800 installed, with a three-year payback projection based on current tariffs in the 3550 postcode.

Next steps for residents and founders

City planners will hold a public review of the Hargreaves Street microgrid on July 22 at the Bendigo Town Hall. Founders interested in the next funding cycle can submit expressions of interest through the development corporation portal before August 18. Households in Strathfieldsaye and Golden Square can register for site assessments through either company starting July 14.