THE federal government has announced it will give $500,000 towards a “community battery” at Flinders to store and distribute electricity from household solar panels.
If successful, negotiations under way between Mornington Peninsula Shire, Flinders Zero Carbon Community and Yarra Energy Foundation will see the shire assume ownership of the battery and pay $30,000 for site preparation works.
The federal grant from the Community Batteries for Household Solar Program, will pay for the battery and its installation.
Adoption of the plan by the government and shire follows three years of work by Flinders Zero Carbon Community, including holding community forums and commissioning a feasibility study.
The Flinders project is modelled on a community battery at Fitzroy North.
The battery, estimated to have a 10-year lifespan, is designed to store solar energy for use during peak times and to share excess solar-generated power with other households.
Any profits from the battery and potential EV charger will go to a fund administered by Repower Mornington Peninsula, of which Flinders Zero Carbon Community is a satellite group.
The 360kWh battery is estimated to be able to support 75 to 100 households; allow increased grid capacity for more solar installations; and generate revenue to subsidise solar for low-income households. The estimated emissions reduction is 22.8 tonnes of CO2 a year.
The mayor Cr Steve Holland said the battery would demonstrate “how one community can transition to renewable energy”.
Cr David Gill said there was “a need for governments to normalise helping our community with further environmentally friendly low-cost power solutions”.
First published in the Mornington News – 20th June 2023
