Byron Council backs plan for community battery

BYRON Shire Council will investigate establishing a community battery to store excess solar energy for use during peak periods and outages.

Greens councillor Elia Hauge said the initiative would allow more residents to access renewable energy, particularly those unable to install solar panels.

“Not everyone can install solar panels on their roof, whether they’re renting or living in an apartment,” Hauge said.

“A community battery will allow more residents to benefit from clean, affordable solar power while building our community’s energy resilience.”

Community batteries are shared energy storage systems that store excess solar power during the day for use in the evening.

They have been successfully introduced in other parts of Australia, including Melbourne’s Yarra Energy Foundation project and trials in Sydney and Perth, helping reduce reliance on the grid and lowering power costs for residents.

Councillors voted unanimously for the initiative at yesterday’s meeting, supporting a motion put forward by Hauge and fellow Greens councillor Michelle Lowe.

The decision will establish a Community Battery Working Group, including local community groups, Essential Energy representatives, interested councillors and council staff, and initiate a feasibility study into suitable sites, technologies and operating models.

Lowe said ensuring equitable access would be central to the project’s design.

“We want this initiative to benefit everyone in our community, particularly those experiencing energy disadvantage,” she said.

“The feasibility study will help us understand how to structure the project to maximise both environmental and social benefits.

“It will be wonderful to take advantage of all of the daytime solar spillage to achieve energy equity in our Shire.”