Beacon Hill: Ausgrid battery trial to save up to $300 a year on power bills
Electricity distributor Ausgrid has unveiled a community battery at Beacon Hill that allows locals — who have solar panels — to store their excess energy.
Manly
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Householders on the northern beaches have the chance to take part in a groundbreaking battery storage trial that could shave hundreds of dollars off their annual power bills.
Electricity distributor Ausgrid has unveiled a community battery at Beacon Hill that allows locals — who have solar panels — to store their excess energy.
The batteries also allow more renewable energy into the power grid that helps meet peak time demands as well as push down costs.
Ausgrid says the $2 million two-year community battery trial — the first of its kind on the Australian east coast — will potentially save households the cost of installing their own individual batteries and cut their electricity bills buy allowing them to use more of the solar energy their home generates.
Unlike a household battery, the $400,000 community battery allows solar customers, connected to the same local distribution network, to share in the larger “community” battery that is owned and maintained by Ausgrid.
At Monday’s launch of the trial at Princess Mary Reserve, Ausgrid CEO Richard Gross estimated that it will save households involved in the scheme up to $300 a year.
“Community batteries, simply put, allows customers to save their energy and actually use that energy at a later time,” Mr Gross said.
“Customers can save on their bills from $100 to $300 per year.”
Mr Gross also pointed out that it costs households about $10,000 to $14,000 install a battery that stores excess solar energy.
“It’s really a win, win win. It’s a win for customers with lower bills. It’s a win for the community by sharing an asset and it’s a win for the environment by lowering carbon emissions.”
This first battery trial will allow about 200 residences at Beacon Hill — if they have solar panels and are near Princess Mary Reserve — to take part. But customers in the trial area who are considering installing solar panels can also register their interest with Ausgrid and receive an assessment for suitability to be in the program.
About 20 per cent of Australian households have solar panels.
Energy Minister Matt Kean said the community battery concept will turn “renewable energy into reliable energy”.
“Delivering cheap renewable, reliable energy is what it’s all about (and) driving down household bills, keeping the system going and making sure we do our bit for the planet,” Mr Kean said.
Northern Beaches Mayor Michael Regan said Beacon Hill was chosen as the first trial location because a significant number of residents already had rooftop solar panels.
Mr Regan said the northern beaches, where 11,000 households already have solar, was also passionate about lowering carbon emissions.
“(And) there’s an opportunity for up to 60,000 households on the northern beaches to take up solar.
“They’ve all expressed a significant interest in being able to use technology, like the batteries, and being a part of it.”
Liberal MLC Natalie Ward, who represents the northern beaches in the NSW Parliament’s Upper House, said the area was one of the most environmentally conscious communities in the state.
“Not only do initiatives like this make environmental sense it makes sense to the household budget,” Ms Ward said..
The battery trial comes as three free 15-minute charging stations for electric cars are being proposed for Mona Vale by an electric vehicle charging network company.
JOLT has lodged a development application with Northern Beaches Council to install the free charging stations at Mona Vale – one outside 3 Bungan St and two in Village Park in Park St.
The charging stations will be located on existing Ausgrid substations, known as distribution kiosks.
The advertising signage, which will be similar to the advertising on bus shelters and phone boxes, will pay for the electricity used to charge the electric cars at no cost to the owners of the cars.
Maintenance of the charging stations and the digital signage will be covered by Ausgrid and JOLT.
Residents of the northern beaches are being asked to comment on the proposal by March 4.
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