Vena Energy recognised as finalist For clean energy council's community value & Impact award
Vena Energy has been recognised as a finalist in the 2026 Clean Energy Council Awards, announced at the Australian Clean Energy Summit Gala Dinner in Sydney on 28 July.
The Community Value and Impact Award attracted a record number of submissions this year, with Vena Energy named one of three finalists in recognition of its community engagement initiatives in South Australia’s Coorong District.
The initiatives included Vena Energy’s Construction Ready Training Program, the Engineering Tomorrow school program, and the Community Sponsorship Program, which were delivered alongside the development of the company’s Tailem Bend green energy projects. Together, these initiatives have equipped local residents with skills and training to access employment opportunities, introduced renewable energy education into a local primary school, and supported community-led projects focused on environmental conservation, wellbeing and local infrastructure.
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"This recognition reflects years of consistent, on-the-ground effort to deliver meaningful outcomes for our host communities. None of it would have been possible without the trust and partnership of the people we work alongside, and that's what this achievement truly celebrates."
Recipients of the Community Sponsorship Program have included the Tailem Bend Football Club, which has received support on two occasions.
In 2024, Vena Energy funded the installation of a 75-panel solar energy system to power the club’s change rooms and facilities (pictured right), followed by a battery storage upgrade in 2025 to store renewable energy for use during peak demand periods and evening matches.
Terry Connolly, Facility Project Manager at the Tailem Bend Football Club, says the support has made a genuine difference to the club. “Vena Energy’s support for our solar and battery systems means the money we used to spend on electricity now goes straight back into junior development and our facilities, and that kind of partnership makes a real difference to a community club like ours.”
Other community initiatives supported through the program have included funding a hot water system upgrade for the Tailem Bend RSL, improving accessibility at the Tailem Bend Community Centre’s historic Station Master’s House, providing a laser cutter for Tailem Bend Primary School’s design and technology curriculum, and supporting the Raukkan Football and Netball Club, which is home to more than 100 Ngarrindjeri players.
Vena Energy has been operating in the Coorong District since 2019, when it commissioned its first solar farm in Australia at Tailem Bend. Since then, the precinct has expanded to include a hybrid solar and battery energy storage project, with construction now underway on the 408 MW Tailem Bend 3 Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), which is scheduled for commissioning in 2027.
