Four community batteries will store renewable energy, generated from rooftop solar, for use by hundreds of residents living in Alphington, Bellfield, Coburg and Flemington in Victoria.

Jemena Electricity Networks (Jemena Networks) has been awarded up to $2 million in funding to deliver the community batteries through the Australian Government’s Community Batteries for Household Solar Program.

“Our customers have told us they want access to clean, renewable energy. By installing these community batteries within the Jemena Electricity Network, we are making renewable energy a reality for many of our customers who don’t have rooftop solar, such as those who are renting,” Jemena Networks executive general manager Shaun Reardon says.

“We will now work with local councils and residents to confirm the specific locations of each battery and we will engage with residents throughout the project. This will include written progress updates and in-person events where residents will have the option to ask questions and provide feedback.”

The community batteries will store excess power generated from rooftop solar during the day with each battery holding around 360kWh of storage, the same amount of energy used by around 150 homes for two hours at night. This means that all customers connected to the local network will have access to renewable energy, not just those with rooftop solar.

The batteries will also help stabilise the electricity grid by soaking up excess solar during the day and reducing demand on the grid during peak times late in the day.

“The amount of solar energy that can be exported back into the grid within the Jemena Network has grown by 30% from levels seen in 2020. This was achieved through an optimisation program aimed at ensuring the network is equipped to host additional solar energy with no impact on the power supply customers rely on each day,” Shaun says.

“We will continue to invest in new technologies, such as community batteries, to maintain grid stability as solar uptake increases over the coming years.

“This is part of our work to build the energy system of the future, one which supports our customers on their decarbonisation journey, gives our customers choice and control over how they use and access the grid and delivers energy, reliably and safely.”

Work to install the batteries will commence in 2024. The batteries are expected to be operational by mid-2024.