Endeavour Energy launches new community battery program

Endeavour Energy has announced a program that will see 76 new community batteries delivered in New South Wales — across the Illawarra, South Coast, Greater Western Sydney, Blue Mountains and Southern Highlands regions.

The significant infrastructure project is funded in partnership with the federal government’s Community Batteries for Household Solar Program, along with the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).

The first community batteries have been unveiled in Warrawong and Dapto, with the Illawarra region set to receive a total of 22 community batteries.

“The installation of community batteries in the Illawarra is a win for customers to help ease cost-of-living pressures,” said Federal Member for Cunningham Alison Byrnes, who helped to launch the new batteries alongside Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services Stephen Jones MP and Francoise Merit, Endeavour Energy’s Chief Financial Officer.

“The five Warrawong community batteries will help 300 local residents benefit from stored solar energy, including renters, apartment dwellers and those unable to afford the upfront cost of a battery and solar system,” Byrnes said.

“In addition, a further three batteries are coming to the electorate of Cunningham, which is fantastic news for people in the Illawarra.”

Endeavour Energy Chief Executive Guy Chalkley said community batteries were critical for decarbonising Australia’s grid and enhancing access to affordable, renewable energy for thousands of households.

“The integration of community batteries is not just a step forward for our energy infrastructure, but a leap towards a sustainable future for all Australians,” he said.

Endeavour Energy’s deployment of 76 batteries across 33 suburbs is divided into two major programs:

• The Community Batteries for Household Solar Program: delivering 44 community batteries in Warrawong, Dapto, Bidwill, Cabramatta, East Blaxland, and Hobartville
• ARENA Community Batteries Funding Round 1: supporting 32 batteries across 27 suburbs.
   

These two programs are expected to benefit up to 6000 households across Endeavour Energy’s area, potentially saving individual households up to $400 annually on electricity bills, the utility said.

ARENA CEO Darren Miller said ARENA is supporting the deployment of community batteries across Australia to improve network reliability, lower emissions and provide more cost-effective energy solutions for communities.

“Building on the success of the first round of the Community Batteries Funding Program, a second round is now open, with $46.3 million in funding available. The full program aims to deliver at least 370 batteries to Australian communities,” he said.

Residents living in Warrawong and Dapto can register their interest at endeavourenergy.com.au/communitybatteries.

Image caption: Illawarra Lake. Image credit: iStock.com/zetter