More places benefit from neighbourhood batteries

NEW battery locations taking in 65 sites have been announced as part of round two of the State Government’s $42 million Neighbourhood Battery Program.

Neighbourhood batteries capture cheap, renewable energy from rooftop solar during the day and feed it back into the homes or organisations they are connected to at night, when power usage is high.

The Salvation Army will install units across 22 locations, including food banks, domestic violence refuges, emergency crisis accommodation, drug and alcohol rehabilitation centres and community centres.

The Salvos’ batteries are expected to generate $790,000 of energy bill savings and income that will be invested back into their community services.

Other neighbourhood battery sites announced include Housing Choices Australia premises across Melbourne, the Koo Wee Rup Community Centre, the Venus Bay Community Centre and Trafalgar Recreation Reserve in Gippsland, the Reefton Fire Station in the Yarra Ranges and the Pyalong Recreation Reserve Hall in Central Victoria. The batteries are hoped to help Victoria reach its target of at least 2.6 GW of energy storage by 2030 and 6.3 GW by 2035 – enough energy to power around half of Victoria’s homes.

Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio said Victoria is now “the home of batteries – which soak up cheap renewable energy to drive down bills for Victorian families”.

“These batteries will also help keep the power flowing to essential services like the Salvation Army during extreme weather events so that Victorians can continue to access the help and assistance they need,” Ms D’Ambrosio said.

There are now 90 neighbourhood battery projects across metropolitan and regional Victoria.

For a full list of locations, visit the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action website.