Australia allocates $81.2m for community batteries

Applications for up to $13.5m funding are now open.

The Australian government has provided around $81.2m (A$120m) funds for the first round of the community batteries funding programme that would support the deployment of batteries across the country.

In a statement, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) the fund will be split equally across two streams which are the distributed network service providers (DNSP) and applicants that are not DNSPs.

The programme targets to lower energy bills, and reduce emissions and pressure on the electricity grid through community batteries, the agency said.

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It also opens applications for up to $13.5m (A$20m) funding to deploy a minimum of five community batteries. To be eligible for the funding, each battery should be between 50 kilowatts and 5 megawatts, and connected to the distribution network.

“Not everyone is able to install rooftop solar, but by storing electricity close to the point of consumer demand, we can reduce network costs and alleviate constraints in areas with high solar penetration. This will ultimately reduce electricity costs for all consumers,” said ARENA CEO Darren Miller.

$1 = A$1.48