Community batteries

What is a community battery?

Community batteries support renewable energy and play a key role in allowing our network to transition to a clean energy future. Batteries store energy such as excess solar and can share the energy back to customers when energy demand is high and solar systems are no longer generating. They can also help strengthen the electricity grid if they are placed in areas where the network needs upgrading or support to maintain power reliability and quality.

How does a community battery work?

The high uptake of rooftop solar has seen households generate large amounts of energy during the day sometimes generating a surplus which is exported to the electricity grid. In cases where there is a large amount of surplus energy exported, the reliability and quality of the grid is impacted. This may result in a reduction of customer exports and damage to TasNetworks infrastructure.

A community battery puts this excess energy to good use. It works a bit like an energy bank where it can store excess solar generated by rooftop panels. Later the community battery can share the energy back with the community.

This reduces pressure on the electricity grid and makes sure that Tasmanians can use all the renewable energy available.

This Project received funding for six community batteries from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) as part of the Community Battery Round 1 under ARENA's Advancing Renewables Program. The views expressed herein are not necessarily the views of the Australian Government, and the Australian Government does not accept responsibility for any information or advice contained herein.

This Project has also received funding for two community batteries from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water as part of the Community Batteries for Household Solar Delivery of Election Commitments Stream 1 grant opportunity.

The views expressed herein are not necessarily the views of the Australian Government, and the Australian Government does not accept responsibility for any information or advice contained herein.