The Australian Federal Government’s initiative to install 400 community batteries across the country has reached the Australian Capital Territory, with plans for three new battery energy storage systems.
Three new community batteries with a capacity of 160 kW/440 kWh will be installed in Canberra in the coming months as the Australian Federal Government has committed AUD 1.5 million ($960,000) to funding the projects.
The batteries will be owned and operated by Australian Capital Territory (ACT) network owner Evoenergy. They will be installed in the Canberra suburbs of Casey, Dickson and Fadden.
Australian Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the community batteries will allow residents with and without rooftop solar to reap the benefits of storage without the cost of a household battery.
“In these three locations there are 6,000 households with solar panels on their roofs, but less than 300 batteries,” he said, adding that batteries at the household level are expensive. “But a community battery offers people who cannot justify or afford the cost of a household battery the opportunity to further participate in the renewable energy revolution.”
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the new batteries will increase storage capacity in the electricity network and allow more households to connect to rooftop solar.
“Since 2020, 100% of electricity in the ACT has come from renewable sources, and initiatives such as community batteries are proving the viability of local renewable energy generation and storage in supporting a robust, affordable and sustainable energy network,” he said.
The new Canberra community batteries are the latest to be announced as part of the federal government’s AUD200 million Community Batteries for Household Solar program. The aim of the initiative is to deploy 400 community batteries across Australia that will provide shared storage for up to 100,000 households.
In addition to the three batteries in the ACT, the first tranche of the community batteries, 13 batteries will be installed in Queensland, 15in New South Wales15 in Victoria, two in South Australiatwo in Tasmania and six in Western Australia.
According to the grant guidelines, the projects are expected to be completed by March 31, 2025.
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