Batteries charge throughout the day and disperse power after dark when demand is high. Photo: Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action.
More suburbs and towns in Victoria are set to be plugged into neighbourhood batteries in an effort to lower power bills, increase solar penetration into the state and provide emergency power during extreme weather events.
Neighbourhood batteries soak up renewable power from rooftop solar panels by day and feed it back into homes at night when power usage is high.
The Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio visited the Salvation Army Box Hill where one of 65 new battery locations was announced as part of the $42 million Neighbourhood Battery Program.
“Victoria is the home of batteries, which soak up cheap renewable energy during the day to drive down bills for Victorian families,” Minister D’Ambrosio said.
“These batteries will also help keep the power flowing to essential services like the Salvation Army during extreme weather events so that Victorians can continue to access the help and assistance they need.”
The Salvation Army’s batteries will generate $790,000 of savings on energy bills and income that will then be reinvested into community services.
The batteries, planned for 22 Salvation Army sites, also provide backup energy for emergency support services across various food banks, domestic violence refuges, emergency crisis accommodation, community centres, and drug and alcohol rehabilitation centres.
Other neighbourhood battery locations include Venus Bay Community Centre, Koo Wee Rup Community Centre, Trafalgar Recreation Reserve in Gippsland, Reefton Fire Station in the Yarra Ranges, and Pyalong Recreation Reserve Hall in Central Victoria.
The batteries are also intended to help the state reach its target of 2.6 GW of energy storage by 2030 and 6.3 GW by 2035, hoping to power around half of Victoria’s homes.
Paired with this scheme is the First Peoples’ Solar and Storage Initiative, allowing First Peoples’ corporations and organisations access to the benefit of neighbourhood batteries with funding from the Federal Government.
There are currently 90 neighbourhood battery projects across Victoria. For a full list of locations, visit the Victorian Government website.
