Ausgrid community batteries unlock significant savings for customers

3 August 2024

Ausgrid has launched its ninth community battery under the Federal Government’s Community Batteries for Household Solar Program and announced a partnership with retailers which could save some eligible customers more than $200 a year.

The Bondi Community Battery will put downward pressure on energy bills courtesy of a new ‘Energy Storage as a Service’ partnership with Origin Energy and EnergyAustralia .

Energy Storage as a Service (ESaaS) allows eligible customers to benefit from all community batteries installed to date across the Ausgrid network in a similar fashion as a typical household battery, but without the significant upfront costs.

Energy Storage as a Service (ESaaS) allows eligible customers to benefit from all community batteries installed to date across the Ausgrid network as they would if they owned their own typical household battery, but without the significant upfront costs.

Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen said ESaaS was the next step in the evolution of the community batteries offering which will add another layer of relief for cost-of living pressures.

 “And now with ‘Energy Storage as a Service’ on offer, we can begin to see the direct financial benefits for customers of having batteries like these across the network.

“Some customers can expect savings in excess of $200 per year because of this partnership.”

Member for Wentworth, Allegra Spender, said the program is a huge win for her electorate.

“The battery will help deliver cleaner and cheaper electricity for our community, reducing both power bills and climate pollution.

“Renters and apartment dwellers have been locked-out of lower power bills for too long, but the launch of ‘Energy Storage as Service’ will finally enable them to share in the benefits of Australia’s rooftop solar revolution,” Ms Spender said.

Ausgrid CEO, Marc England, said allowing customers to be able to store electricity locally reduced their reliability on the wider grid and enabled real savings.

“Eligible customers in the vicinity of Ausgrid’s community batteries use the network less and therefore pay less in network charges, potentially saving them hundreds of dollars per year.

“Batteries like this one act as a sponge during the day, absorbing solar generation and then feeding that back to the network during peak times, putting downward pressure on energy bills,” Mr England said.

Origin Energy’s CEO, Frank Calabria, said how pleased his organisation is to be working with Ausgrid to help provide access to cleaner, smarter and more affordable energy for customers. 

EnergyAustralia's Managing Director, Mark Collette, agrees the service could play an important role in the energy transition.

"EnergyAustralia is focused on making energy simple for customers, combining customer assets into our portfolio to deliver the most predictable and affordable outcomes.

"Community batteries help the wider community coordinate their energy assets improving reliability, affordability and sustainability outcomes for everyone,” Mr Collette said.

The Bondi community battery has been wrapped in custom artwork created by local first nations artist Shane Youngberry titled ‘Healthy Dharagang’’, meaning Healthy River. The artwork shows smoke coming off campsites, and people hunting along the river, demonstrating the importance of rivers and waterways, for Aboriginal people, and the animals that lived around them.

Background

The 160kW/412kWh community battery at Bondi is also connected to an EV charger, allowing drivers to charge up with renewably sourced electricity.

This electric vehicle charging station has been installed in partnership with Waverley, Woollahra and Randwick Councils.

Ausgrid has already installed community batteries to support households in Beacon Hill, Bankstown, Cameron Park, Cabarita, Narara, Warriewood, North Epping and Bexley North.

Combined with the new community battery tariff (Local Use of System tariff) customers can use Ausgrid community batteries in a similar fashion as a typical household battery and generate substantial savings without having to pay the high upfront cost for installation.

The ESaaS program, and the savings benefits it offers, are available to all eligible customers connected to any Ausgrid community battery on an opt-in basis.

Interested customers should contact a participating retailer to see whether they are eligible for the program.

For more information on Energy Storage As A Service visit ausgrid.com.au/EnergyStorageAsAService or find out more about Community Batteries at ausgrid.com.au/batteries.

Ausgrid Media | 9966 7985