One hundred Kiama Downs properties with installed solar systems could be the first in the Illawarra region to benefit from a 200/400KW community battery to service and store their electricity.

Endeavour Energy has proposed the project to Kiama Council as part of its Community Battery Initiative Program, to enable residents to store their excess solar power in the battery for use later on.

The proposed community battery would be located on the road verge of Henry Parkes Drive, on Council community land.

“Kiama Downs will be one of the first communities in the Endeavour Energy network to receive a community battery,” says CEO Endeavour Energy, Guy Chalkley.

“The first batteries are proposed for Kiama Downs and Bungarribbee in Blacktown City where there are many solar customers and where there is high demand on the existing network infrastructure.

“This is an exciting development for our customers that reflects our transition to a modern grid.”

Batteries allow excess photovoltaic generation during the day to be stored and accessed during peak periods in the evening. This maximises renewable energy productivity and reduces reliance on grid supplied fossil fuel generated electricity.

“Privately owned batteries are currently a very expensive option for many households so community batteries offer an innovative approach to sharing to use the energy generated by rooftop solar systems,” says Mr Chalkley.

“It drives down energy bills for participating customers, lessens our dependence on coal-fired electricity and helps to stabilise the flow of energy on the grid.”

The recommendation put forward to Kiama Council by Endeavour Energy, and passed at the July Meeting, was for it to support the project and the community consultation process, as well as provide in-kind financial support up to $2000.

“Endeavour Energy has proposed that Council partner with us in the delivery of this battery because it is an important local initiative that addresses Council’s own environmental policies,” says Mr Chalkley.

“Endeavour Energy can develop the battery on its own but a community-based partnership will help drive better outcomes and help promote energy efficiency in the community.”

It will also collaborate with Council and the community to finalise the design of the battery. It is proposed the battery becomes a public art project, potentially as a green scape in order to blend into the surrounding vegetation.

Endeavour Energy will also be required to prepare an Environmental Impact Assessment, which will cover site-specific aspects such as consultations, visual and noise impacts, heritage impacts and accessibility.

“We don’t believe there are downsides to community batteries, especially when they are well considered and placed sensitively,” says Mr Chalkley.

“They are a proven technology that can deliver cost savings to customers and improve environmental outcomes by directly reducing our reliance on electricity from conventional sources such as coal-fired generation.

“They are quiet to run and the battery is subject to statutory advertising and planning controls and Endeavour Energy will undertake the necessary statutory planning to advance the proposal of this community battery.

“We expect a community battery can be installed and operational in the first half of 2022. We are looking forward to working with the community in making this happen.”

Details of how to be one of the 100 connected to the battery are not yet available.