A pathway to community-scale batteries
Decentralised power storage and generation are fast becoming a reality as trials light up neighbourhoods across Australia. The end goal is independent, reliable and affordable energy generation and storage across the country.
Community-scale batteries are also known as community, neighbourhood or neighbourhood-scale batteries. These batteries may promise to one day play an important role in this goal, making the most of the country’s existing use of solar energy. According to the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), more than 3 million Australian households now have rooftop solar installed. That’s more per capita than any other nation.
In March 2023, the CSIRO released the Renewable Energy Storage Roadmap report. It suggests Australia will need to dramatically increase its energy storage if we’re to support a successful renewable energy transition. The roadmap estimates that, by 2030, the National Energy Market will need six times more energy storage than is available today.
As a key initiative under our Sustainability Strategy 2021-25, our Jacka Battery Initiative: Community-Scale Battery Storage System we've researched ways to help create a pathway towards more energy storage.
How community-scale batteries work
Community-scale batteries can be placed around urban areas in any given neighbourhood or street. Smaller than large batteries like the ones installed by Tesla in South Australia, but larger than a household battery, many are looking at community-scale batteries to plug a gap in our future energy system.
Community-scale batteries can be as small as a fridge right up to the size of a shipping container. Usually they aren't connected to a specific home or building like regular batteries. Instead, they're usually located in public spaces. This may include the edge of suburbs, open space or parks throughout a suburb. They are then connected directly into the grid. This is known as being in front of the meter.
This way the battery can soak up excess power generated throughout the neighbourhood, such as through solar panels.
Then during times of peak demand like at night time, this electricity can then be fed back into the grid. Powering homes when they need it most.
This idea is central to the promise of decentralised energy production and storage. Where energy grids are more robust, reliable and secure.
Researching opportunities for Jacka
We've spent the last few years understanding what opportunities a community-scale battery could provide for Jacka. We did this by engaging with experts from the energy industry, academia and other stakeholders.
During 2023-24 we also ran a two-stage Tender process to find a head contractor to deliver a community-scale battery for Jacka.
Through this process it was found that delivering this project in Jacka would likely have been very expensive while not providing much benefit to the community. As a result, the Suburban Land Agency (SLA) has decided not to proceed with the project.
Financial risks including start up and ongoing operational costs were important considerations during this significant project. While they were a barrier on this occasion, running a similar project on another location across Canberra may result a different outcome if certain conditions mean a battery is cheaper to build and run.
As Canberra’s newest all-electric community, SLA has designed Jacka to be an inclusive more resilient neighbourhood and has considered the suburb’s future solar generation and electricity demand, even without a community-scale battery.
We will also continue to strongly encourage people in this growing community to consider the requirements of the Jacka Energy and Landscape Rebate when design all-electric solar powered homes which can also cost less to heat and cool.
Find out more about Jacka’s sustainability initiatives here.
