Borough charging towards solar battery solution

QUEENSCLIFF Climate Action Group (QCAG) is seeking community input for a feasibility study into a community battery for the borough, which is due to finish this month.

QCAG is working alongside the Borough of Queenscliffe, Geelong Sustainability and renewable energy experts Wave Consulting to investigate the idea, which would maximise solar energy generation and storage in the community.

QCAG is collecting information from locals through an online survey about uptake and interest in solar batteries to inform its study.

Acting president Stuart Kent said last month that a community battery would mark a key early milestone in the action group’s delivery of the borough’s plan.

“It’s a project that would help meet project targets. It’s a strong rallying point for progressing the CERP together,” Mr Kent said.

Once finished, QCAG and its partner agencies plan on using the feasibility study to advocate for federal and state funding for a preferred model.

Organisations started looking into potential battery options in the early stages of the borough’s Climate Emergency Response Plan (CERP), due to already high uptake of solar in the local community.

Authorities believe a widespread battery solution could help manage peak load challenges and electricity grid constraints related to power output.

The CERP aims to have solar on roofs of 75 per cent of residences and 90 per cent of businesses.

A host of potential solutions are under investigation as part of the battery plan, such as one large community battery, several smaller batteries or bulk buy of home batteries.