Image: On site at the launch of the community battery: Stephen Bali Member for Blacktown, Leanne Pickering, Chief Customer and Strategy Officer, Endeavour Energy, Mayor Tony Bleasdale, Penny Sharpe, Minister for Climate Change, Minister for Energy and Guy Chalkley CEO Endeavour Energy. Image: supplied.
By ROBBIE MASON
Western Sydney’s first community battery, which store excess solar energy from surrounding properties, has been switched on in Blacktown to widespread excitement.
Endeavour Energy CEO Guy Chalkley said that the Bungarribee community battery reflects Western Sydney’s growing status as a green energy hub.
Blacktown has long sparkled with the reflection of rooftop solar panels. It’s an area with one of the highest concentrations of solar panels. Origin Energy claims that 95 percent of homes in the vicinity of the new community battery have rooftop solar.
Chalkley said, “it is an exciting innovation that will see our customers both be a part of, and benefit from the energy transition, whether they have rooftop solar or not, and whether they own their home or are renting.”
“The installation of community batteries supports our target of becoming climate positive by 2040 and is part of our transition to a modern, clean energy grid that meets the changing needs of our customers with customers able to generate, store and share their energy”.
Local residents can now rent a portion of the battery for $15 per month. Participating customers will receive a rebate on the energy they store and use from the battery.
Blacktown Mayor Tony Bleasdale welcomed the environmental and financial wins for the community, stating, “I am delighted that it will support our residents in reducing their household energy costs and their household carbon footprint”.
A spokesperson for Endeavour Energy said that Blacktown City Council has been “really supportive” of the project. The council promoted the initiative, granted Endeavour Energy access to the land and helped secure an artwork for the battery, titled Family Values. The artwork by Cabrogal woman Karen Maber of the Dharug Nation explores the concept Caring for Country as the responsibility of all.
The spokesperson indicated that the community’s response to the battery is “very positive”.
“We have been inundated with requests from the community to be involved.”
The Bungarribee community battery is a trial run, designed to stabilise the energy grid during peak times and alter the way residents consumer and store energy. 10 further community batteries are expected to be installed across the state. Residents in Bowral, Kiama Downs, Shell Cove and South Granville will all see community batteries in their neighbourhoods soon.
Under the Commonwealth Batteries for Household Solar program, Endeavour Energy will deliver a further 44 community batteries across the Endeavour Energy network by March 2025.
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