Powering research with community batteries

A NSW university will soon receive power from 10 community batteries as a result of a project being run by Hydro Tasmania’s energy retailer Momentum Energy, with funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).

The University of Wollongong (UOW) will be one of the first organisations to benefit from the project, which is being rolled out at locations across Australia. The 10 batteries will be installed across the UOW Wollongong and Innovation campuses, helping to power research laboratories, medical research and teaching facilities.

As well as helping to reduce electricity costs, the project aims to provide another income stream for the University by connecting it to the Hydro Tasmania Virtual Power Plant — this will allow excess solar PV or grid energy to be stored and sold into the National Electricity Market when needed.

A VPP turns assets on or off and up or down as needed, and can also export power directly into the grid, for example when a battery is discharged.

“We’re excited to partner with the University of Wollongong and ARENA to deliver this project,” said Momentum Energy Managing Director Lisa Chiba.

“The electricity grid needs to balance supply and demand at every point in the day. As Australia’s energy system transitions to having more renewables, we see increasing amounts of intermittent power like solar and wind in the grid,” she continued.

“Hydro Tasmania’s virtual power plant allows individual energy assets to work together like a traditional power plant and helps them to respond to the demands of the market.”

UOW Interim Vice-Chancellor and President Senior Professor Eileen McLaughlin said the University was committed to playing a leading role in the transition to a cleaner energy future for the Illawarra.

“This project embodies UOW’s dedication to sustainability. By turning our own campuses into living laboratories, we can not only reduce our environmental impact but also showcase the practical applications of cutting-edge energy solutions,” McLaughlin said.

“In demonstrating the feasibility and value of these technologies firsthand, we hope this project will inspire other businesses and households in the Illawarra to embrace the benefits of clean energy transformation.”

McLaughlin said the project built upon a long history of pioneering energy innovation at UOW.

“From our award-winning Solar Decathlon homes to groundbreaking technologies like the Hysata hydrogen process and the world-renowned research at our Australian Power Quality Research Centre, we consistently prove that energy transformation is not only achievable but also beneficial for our communities and the planet,” she said.

Funding for the project was received as part of the Community Battery Round 1 under ARENA’s Advancing Renewables Program. Momentum Energy is coordinating the project on behalf of Hydro Tasmania.

Image caption: Solar panels at the University of Wollongong. Ten community batteries will be installed at the University as part of a project that has received funding from ARENA and is being coordinated by Momentum Energy. Image courtesy of UOW.