Ausgrid said the 250kW/535kWh battery energy storage system installed in the Sydney suburb of North Epping will enable households without rooftop PV to reap the benefits of renewable energy, while easing pressure on the electricity grid by absorbing excess solar-generated electricity.
Ausgrid Chief Executive Marc England said the benefits of community batteries are enormous, providing a flexible, scalable energy solution that benefits the local communities in which they are built, and the wider energy system.
“Batteries like these support power quality and voltage in the local area, enable residents to install more solar energy and feed that solar energy into the grid, and support home electrification and electric vehicle charging,” he said. “The battery will also provide system-wide benefits, supporting more intermittent renewable energy generation by bridging the gap between when that energy is generated and when it is needed.”
England said that with the right regulations, Ausgrid could deliver more than 1 to 2 GW of storage across its network, which it said would lead to greater security and reliability of the electricity system for customers.
The North Epping community battery is the third to be delivered by Ausgrid as part of the Federal Government’s Community Battery for Household Solar Program which is investing AUD 200 million to install 400 community batteries across Australia.
England said community batteries are another important step towards retailers offering their customers a community storage service so that everyone can access the benefits of battery storage.
“These batteries are uniquely positioned to allow more renewable energy onto the grid, while providing services to the broader energy market and putting downward pressure on energy bills,” he said.
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