Ausgrid deploys 3rd community battery in New South Wales

The 535 kWh project is located in North Epping.

Electricity distributor Ausgrid installed its third community battery in New South Wales (NSW) to support a reliable power supply in North Epping.

In a statement, Ausgrid said the North Epping community battery, installed under the government’s Community Batteries for Household Solar Programme, will also help reduce energy bills by feeding back into the grid at peak times, allowing more homes to install rooftop solar and charge their electric vehicles.

“Community batteries take advantage of our existing network infrastructure, speeding up installation time and reducing the need for expensive network augmentation,” Ausgrid CEO Marc England said.

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“We estimate NSW consumers could save up to $25 billion if community batteries replace just half the expected home batteries, plus they have the added benefits of continuing to put downward pressure on peak energy prices while maintaining grid stability,” he added.

The 535 kW-hour community battery is part of the Federal Government’s Community Batteries for Household Solar Programme in partnership with the Hornsby Shire Council. The first community batteries under the programme were deployed in Cabarita and Narara, with three more planned in Warriewood, Bondi and Cammeray.

England added that Ausgrid could deploy over one to two gigawatts of storage across its network with the reign regulatory environment.
Ausgrid will also explore the local installation of a community-based renewable energy project.