Ausgrid has unveiled Australia’s first co-located community battery and EV charger, installed through ARENA‘s Community Batteries Funding Round 1.
The Bexley North community battery will support local power reliability, enable more homes to enjoy the benefits of solar panels and put downward pressure on energy bills by feeding back into the grid at peak times.
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In an Australian first, this battery is also connected to an electric vehicle (EV) charger, so local residents and visitors alike can utilise the solar generated in their area to charge their cars.
Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen said it would play an important role in helping households access cleaner, cheaper energy and increasing grid resilience.
“It’s incredibly exciting to deliver a community battery for Bexley North today, our Reliable Renewables plan is bringing cleaner, cheaper reliable renewable energy to communities across the country,” Minister Bowen said.
Ausgrid CEO Marc England said batteries act as a sponge during the day absorbing solar generation and then feed that back to the network during peak times.
“Community batteries not only facilitate a more equitable journey to net-zero but they create a more stable grid putting downward pressure on energy costs,” England said.
“Under this ARENA program, the batteries will be up to 5MW in size, cover more customers, support more solar, and reduce cost and community impact.”
Under the Community Batteries Funding Round 1 program, conditional on executing a funding agreement with ARENA, Ausgrid is aiming to deploy a portfolio of batteries up to 5MW.
Community batteries are flexible and scalable energy solutions that benefit both the local communities and the wider energy system.
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Delivered in partnership with Bayside Council, the 267kWh community battery is Ausgrid’s eighth within its network. The EV charger co-located with the battery will also offer one-month free charging.
The battery has been wrapped in custom artwork created by local First Nations artist Amanda Longbottom, titled On Country.
