Hornsby Shire Council, in partnership with Ausgrid, has successfully secured a $500,000 grant from the New South Wales Government to install a community battery on Beck Street in North Epping.
The battery will support North Epping by helping lower household electricity bills, reduce emissions and deliver reliable renewable energy for local residents by storing energy generated during the day, for distribution in the evening when energy is more expensive.
Community batteries enable households without solar panels to reap the benefits of renewable energy, while reducing emissions and easing pressure on the grid by absorbing excess solar generated electricity. They also put downward pressure on wholesale electricity prices.
Funding for the 240KWh battery is part of the Federal Government’s Community Batteries program, investing $200 million to install 400 community batteries across the country.
Hornsby Shire Council Mayor, the Hon Philip Ruddock AO, said Council is committed to creating a sustainable Shire with resilient, diverse and thriving communities.
“This community battery empowers residents to collectively embrace renewable energy sources. We thank the Australian Government and Ausgrid for their support in bringing this innovative opportunity to Hornsby Shire,” Mayor Ruddock AO said.
Ausgrid CEO, Marc England, said community batteries are an incredibly useful tool to help solve local power quality issues and network constraints while future-proofing the network.
“These batteries are greener for the grid and visible symbols of the transition toward net zero,” Mr England said.
With Council and Ausgrid given the green light, work will now begin to formalise the battery location, engage with the local community, and start works in the coming months to plug the battery into the grid.
The community battery at North Epping is another step forward in Council’s Sustainable Hornsby 2040 Strategy which sets the framework for Council and the community to embed sustainability into daily life.
Featured image: An Ausgrid community battery. Image credit: Hornsby Shire Council.
