SA Power Networks has installed community resilience batteries in the regional towns of Kimba and Hawker to provide backup support in the event of major power outages.
Housed at the Kimba Districts Football and Netball Club and the Hawker Community Sports Centre, the batteries will ensure basic temporary power supply in the event of a prolonged outage.
Related article: Five community batteries power up in Adelaide
The batteries have been jointly funded by SA Power Networks and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). They have been gifted to the local councils who, in conjunction with the sports centres, will have oversight of their use, including deciding when the centres would be open to the public for this purpose.
Kimba can traditionally experience greater impacts from severe weather events than other parts of the Eyre Peninsula, while Hawker is vulnerable to the impact of flooding. The batteries will assist in bridging the gap if SA Power Networks crews need to travel significant distances to repair damage or faults, if they are facing competing demands due to a major regional weather event, or if flooding causes access issues.
When fully charged, the batteries can provide up to eight hours of power. After a momentary cutover, they will begin supplying power automatically when no other supply is available. It is envisaged they would be used only for basic activities such as charging devices or making hot drinks, to ensure they remain accessible to as many people who need them, mitigating the impact of a prolonged power interruption for as long as possible.
SA Power Networks is installing a total of eight community resilience batteries across South Australia, under the partnership with ARENA. The first two were installed at Robe and Lameroo earlier this year.
SA Power Networks external affairs manager Cecilia Schutz said the batteries represented an important commitment to regional and remote communities.
“We respond to all sudden outages as quickly and safely as we can, but we know that for some of our regional communities, distance can make them more prolonged than we would like,” she said.
Related article: 100th community battery installed through ARENA program
“We hope these batteries can ease some of the disruption and inconvenience while our people work hard to restore supply.”
