New battery launched to support more solar in Melbourne’s western suburbs

The first of what is expected to be many neighbourhood batteries installed on the Powercor electricity distribution network has been unveiled today in Melbourne’s western suburbs.

Picture: Powercor Chief Executive Officer Tim Rourke and Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio.

Powercor Chief Executive Officer Tim Rourke and Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio visited Gleneagles Avenue Park in Tarneit to mark the completion of the battery and artwork.

Charged by both network electricity and local rooftop solar generation, the 120kW/360kWh battery will supply about 170 nearby homes for up to 3 hours during peak electricity demand periods.

The $1.3 million battery received $800,000 funding from the Victorian Government’s Neighbourhood Battery Initiative (NBI) and planning support from Wyndham City Council.

Mr Rourke said batteries will assist Powercor in providing reliable, safe and affordable power to homes and businesses in a clean energy future.

“As more Victorians choose to electrify their homes, we expect batteries will become important assets on our network to help meet the demands of our customers at peak times,” Mr Rourke said.

“Batteries also play a role in supporting growing communities and their solar connections, while minimising the cost of network upgrades.”

“In Tarneit and the surrounding suburbs, almost one in two homes has rooftop solar, making this an ideal location for our first neighbourhood battery,” Mr Rourke said.

The battery was developed under Powercor’s Electric Avenue project model for neighbourhood batteries on the low voltage network.  This prioritises site selection based on a range of community-centric criteria and draws on local artists to beautify the battery as a public asset.

Tarneit residents were consulted on the artwork style preferred for the battery and a neighbouring electrical kiosk.  Artist 23^rd Key, was selected with a design depicting the flora and fauna of the local environment.

Last year, an Electric Avenue Feasibility Study led by Powercor found that demand for action on carbon emissions reduction and climate change are the top reasons why both urban and regional communities are calling for neighbourhood batteries as part of their electricity distribution networks.

“As the transition to renewable energy continues and the take-up of consumer energy generation escalates, Powercor intends to support this need and where suitable, energy storage in all its forms,” Mr Rourke said.

More information about the Tarneit neighbourhood battery and how it works is available at Tarneit neighbourhood battery | CitiPower Powercor

Picture (left to right): Greg Hannan, Head of Network Strategy and Non Network Solutions, CEO Tim Rourke, and Farshad Charmchi, Senior Engineer, Non Network Solutions.