New community battery announced for North Epping
Residents of North Epping will receive a community battery at Beck Street, helping lower household electricity bills, reduce emissions and deliver reliable renewable energy for local residents.
Ausgrid, in partnership with Hornsby Shire Council has successfully secured a $500,000 grant from the NSW Government to install a community battery. It will support North Epping with affordable energy by storing renewable energy generated during the day for distribution in the evening when energy is more expensive.
Community batteries enable households without solar panels to reap the benefits of renewable energy, while reducing emissions and easing pressure on the grid by absorbing excess solar generated electricity. They also put downward pressure on wholesale electricity prices.
Funding for the 240 kilowatt per hour battery is part of the Federal Government’s Community Batteries program, investing $200 million to install 400 community batteries across the country.
“Hornsby Shire Council is committed to creating a sustainable Shire with resilient, diverse and thriving communities. This community battery empowers residents to collectively embrace renewable energy sources. We thank the Australian Government and Ausgrid for their support in bringing this innovative opportunity to Hornsby Shire,” said Hornsby Shire Mayor the Hon Philip Ruddock AO.
“Community batteries are an incredibly useful tool to help solve local power quality issues and network constraints while future-proofing the network. These batteries are greener for the grid and visible symbols of the transition toward net zero,” said Ausgrid Chief Executive Officer, Marc England.
With Council and Ausgrid given the green light, work will now begin to formalise the battery location, engage with the local community and start works in coming months to plug the battery into the grid.
The community battery at North Epping is another step forward in Council’s Sustainable Hornsby 2040 Strategy which sets the framework for Council and the community as we embark on our journey to embed sustainability into our daily lives. For more information and to read the strategy visit hornsby.nsw.gov.au/sustainabilitystrategy.
