A community battery is a locally shared battery within a community that enables storage of excess rooftop solar generated electricity, which can be used at a later time. Batteries enable the community to use the stored electricity instead of importing it from the grid. They are about the size of a 4WD and store the equivalent of around 25-45 average household batteries.
Community batteries support renewable generation by providing more energy storage to deliver secure and affordable energy for Australian households and businesses.
Community batteries:
- lower electricity bills
- reduce pressure on the electricity grid for the broader community
- contribute to lower emissions
- store solar energy for later use or sharing and support further solar installations
- allow households that cannot install solar panels to enjoy the benefits of renewable energy through shared community storage
- acts a grid-stabiliser by absorbing excess energy that might otherwise cause voltage spikes in the grid.
How do community batteries work?
One half shows a few solar and non-solar homes during sunlight, connected to the grid. The solar homes direct their excess solar energy to a community battery which is also connected to the grid. The other half shows the same houses at night-time, drawing on energy from the community battery. The community battery can also export and receive energy from the grid.
ELECTRICITY IS STORED IN A COMMUNITY BATTERY
Community batteries support renewable generation by providing more energy storage to deliver secure and affordable energy for Australians.
Community batteries can:
- lower electricity bills
- reduce pressure on the electricity grid for the broader community
- store solar energy for later use or sharing
- support further solar installations
- allow non-solar households to enjoy the benefits of renewable energy
- act as a grid stabiliser by absorbing excess energy produced from solar panels during the day.
ELECTRICITY PULLED FROM THE COMMUNITY BATTERY
When needed, homes pull electricity from the community battery. Homes without solar panels can also draw energy from the community battery.
Individual household usage is tracked by a smart meter, which is reflected in household energy bills.
BENEFITS FOR THE POWER GRID
The community battery absorbs excess electricity produced from solar panels during the day and provides a steady supply of electricity when there is high demand.
The grid can provide electricity when the battery is low.
Community Batteries for Household Solar program
The $200 million Community Batteries for Household Solar program will enable Australians to store affordable solar energy for use during peak times, and to share excess power with other households in their area.
Successful applicants
Successful applicants for the $29m program administered by Business Grants Hub to deliver a subset of the 400 batteries (Streams 1 & 2) have now been announced.
| Applicant Details | Location | State | Grant Amount | (kWh) capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENDEAVOUR ENERGY NETWORK MANAGEMENT PTY LTD | Bidwill | NSW | $500,000 | 500 |
| ENDEAVOUR ENERGY NETWORK MANAGEMENT PTY LTD | Blaxland | NSW | $500,000 | The proposed fleet includes 4 individual batteries with 740 kWh of energy storage capacity. |
| AUSGRID FINANCE PTY LTD | Bondi / Bondi Beach | NSW | $500,000 | 240 |
| AUSGRID FINANCE PTY LTD | Breakfast Point / Cabarita | NSW | $500,000 | 240 |
| ENDEAVOUR ENERGY NETWORK MANAGEMENT PTY LTD | Cabramatta | NSW | $500,000 | The proposed fleet includes 28 individual batteries with 2240 kWh of energy storage capacity. |
| AUSGRID FINANCE PTY LTD | Cammeray | NSW | $500,000 | 240 |
| ENDEAVOUR ENERGY NETWORK MANAGEMENT PTY LTD | Dapto | NSW | $500,000 | The proposed fleet is a suite of 13 individual batteries with 1040 kWh of energy storage capacity. |
| ESSENTIAL ENERGY | Goulburn | NSW | $500,000 | 500 |
| ENDEAVOUR ENERGY NETWORK MANAGEMENT PTY LTD | Hobartville | NSW | $500,000 | The proposed fleet is a suite of 11 individual batteries with 880 kWh of energy storage capacity. |
| ESSENTIAL ENERGY | Leeton | NSW | $500,000 | 500 |
| ESSENTIAL ENERGY | Maloneys Beach | NSW | $500,000 | 500 |
| AUSGRID FINANCE PTY LTD | Narara | NSW | $500,000 | 240 |
| AUSGRID FINANCE PTY LTD | North Epping | NSW | $500,000 | 240 |
| ENDEAVOUR ENERGY NETWORK MANAGEMENT PTY LTD | Warrawong | NSW | $500,000 | The proposed fleet is a suite of 9 individual batteries with 720 kWh of energy storage capacity. |
| AUSGRID FINANCE PTY LTD | Warriewood | NSW | $500,000 | 240 |
| ENERGEX LIMITED | Birkdale | QLD | $447,892 | 180 |
| ENERGEX LIMITED | Caboolture | QLD | $447,892 | 180 |
| ERGON ENERGY CORPORATION LIMITED | Cairns North | QLD | $447,892 | 180 |
| ENERGEX LIMITED | Caloundra | QLD | $447,892 | 180 |
| ENERGEX LIMITED | Coorparoo | QLD | $447,892 | 180 |
| ENERGEX LIMITED | Griffin | QLD | $447,892 | 180 |
| ENERGEX LIMITED | Kallangur | QLD | $447,892 | 180 |
| ENERGEX LIMITED | Moorooka | QLD | $447,892 | 180 |
| ENERGEX LIMITED | Newmarket | QLD | $447,892 | 180 |
| NOOSA SHIRE COUNCIL | Noosaville | QLD | $500,000 | 360 |
| ENERGEX LIMITED | Nundah | QLD | $447,892 | 180 |
| ENERGEX LIMITED | Pimpama | QLD | $447,892 | 180 |
| ENERGEX LIMITED | The Gap - (suburb in the Brisbane local government area) | QLD | $447,892 | 180 |
| Department for Energy and Mining | Edwardstown | SA | $500,000 | 405 |
| Department for Energy and Mining | Magill | SA | $500,000 | 405 |
| TASMANIAN NETWORKS PTY LTD | Howrah | TAS | $500,000 | 250 |
| TASMANIAN NETWORKS PTY LTD | Shorewell Park | TAS | $500,000 | 250 |
| JEMENA ELECTRICITY NETWORKS (VIC) LTD | Alphington | VIC | $500,000 | 360 |
| JEMENA ELECTRICITY NETWORKS (VIC) LTD | Bellfield - Melbourne (suburb in the City of Banyule local government area) | VIC | $500,000 | 360 |
| MERRI-BEK CITY COUNCIL | Brunswick | VIC | $500,000 | 500 |
| UNITED ENERGY DISTRIBUTION PTY LIMITED | Carrum Downs | VIC | $500,000 | 360 |
| JEMENA ELECTRICITY NETWORKS (VIC) LTD | Coburg | VIC | $500,000 | 360 |
| JEMENA ELECTRICITY NETWORKS (VIC) LTD | Flemington | VIC | $500,000 | 360 |
| MORNINGTON PENINSULA SHIRE COUNCIL | Flinders | VIC | $500,000 | 360 |
| POWERCOR AUSTRALIA LTD | Maldon | VIC | $500,000 | 270 |
| Yarra Energy Foundation Limited | Richmond | VIC | $500,000 | 360 |
| MELBOURNE CITY COUNCIL ( CITY OF MELBOURNE ) | Southbank | VIC | $500,000 | 500 |
| BRIMBANK CITY COUNCIL | Sunshine / Sunshine West / Sunshine North / Albion / Ardeer | VIC | $500,000 | 500 |
| INDIGO POWER LTD. | Yarra Junction | VIC | $497,450 | 280 |
| Electricity Networks Corporation | Bayswater | WA | $500,000 | 400 |
| Electricity Networks Corporation | Coogee | WA | $500,000 | 400 |
| Electricity Networks Corporation | Dianella | WA | $500,000 | 400 |
| Electricity Networks Corporation | Kinross | WA | $500,000 | 400 |
| Electricity Networks Corporation | Port Kennedy | WA | $500,000 | 400 |
| Electricity Networks Corporation | Stratton | WA | $500,000 | 400 |
| Applicant Details | Location | State | Grant Amount | (kWh) capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hepburn Community Wind Park Co-Operative Limited | Leonards Hill | VIC | $500,000 | 500 |
| GENI.ENERGY LIMITED | Narrabri | NSW | $500,000 | 360 |