At Origin, we\u2019re involved in several community battery trial programs with energy networks in Queensland and New South Wales. And as Australia continues to transition towards renewable energy solutions, there are more and more community batteries popping up around the country. So, what exactly are they and what do they mean for your household? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A community battery<\/a> is an energy storage system installed in a central location within the community \u2013 like a park, or an energy substation, or even on a power pole. It works like a big rechargeable battery, storing excess electricity including power generated from renewable sources during the day, such as solar panels<\/a>, that is then shared by multiple households or businesses within a community.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n When there\u2019s surplus renewable energy available, the battery stores it. Then, during periods of peak energy demand or when renewable sources aren\u2019t producing, this energy can be supplied to the community. It’s like a collective energy bank, that benefits everyone involved!\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n The high uptake of rooftop solar<\/a> \u2013 more than 3.5 million Aussie homes now have solar panels<\/a> \u2013 has seen households generate large amounts of energy during the day.\u00a0But, that\u2019s also created a new challenge. The excess solar creates congestion on the transmission network \u2013 a bit like when there\u2019s too many cars causing a traffic jam, slowing down your arrival at a destination.\u00a0It\u2019s the same when there\u2019s too much solar<\/a> in the electricity grid. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n A community battery<\/a> puts this excess energy to good use, storing excess solar<\/a> generated by rooftop panels<\/a> and then sharing it back with the community \u2013 helping to balance the grid and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. It\u2019s why we believe community batteries<\/a> have an important role to play in Australia\u2019s energy transition.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether you have solar panels<\/a> or not, you can enjoy the benefits of a community battery. If you\u2019re eligible to access a community battery<\/a> but don\u2019t have solar, you can use a set amount of energy per day \u2013 and receive a rebate on your energy use.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you do<\/em> have solar panels<\/a>, it\u2019s basically like renting storage space for your energy \u2013 without needing to install your own household battery<\/a>. Excess solar<\/a> (up to a set amount) is stored during the day and available for use when you need it. You\u2019ll see savings in the form of credits every billing cycle for this exported energy.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n As an example for our Ipswich trial<\/a>, after factoring in a monthly subscription fee, homes with solar could save up to $260 per year<\/a> \u2013 and homes without solar<\/a> could save more than $180 per year<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Depending on where you live, you may be able to access a community battery trial<\/a> right now \u2013 but if not, there could be one coming to your neighbourhood soon. We\u2019re currently involved in several trial programs, which will ultimately see around 80 community batteries accessed by 1,500 customers.\u00a0This includes a program with Energex<\/a> in the Queensland suburb of Ipswich, where we\u2019re well on the way to our target of 35 batteries.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n In New South Wales, we\u2019ve partnered with Endeavour on battery projects<\/a> in western Sydney (Bungarribee), the South Coast (Kiama and Shell Cove) and the Southern Highlands (Bowral), and with Essential in regional locations<\/a> including Wagga Wagga, Port Macquarie, Armidale, Bathurst and Dubbo. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The most recent battery launch, in August 2024, was with Ausgrid<\/a> in the iconic Australian suburb of Bondi.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhy do we need community batteries?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How does it work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Is there a community battery near me?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n