The first batteries in the ARENA Community Batteries Project, coordinated by Momentum Energy, have been switched on in Adelaide, South Australia.
Five battery energy storage systems (BESS) have been installed across Adelaide, at Aston Hills Shopping Centre, Athelstone Shopping Centre, and two Living Choice retirement villages (Fullarton and Flagstaff Hill).
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Minister for Climate Change and Energy Hon Chris Bowen MP was at Living Choice Flagstaff Hill to celebrate the launch. He said the rollout of community batteries was central to delivering a fairer, more modern energy grid that capitalised on our abundant sunshine.
“We’re backing community batteries to bring down energy bills, cut emissions and share the benefits of rooftop solar with more Australians—whether you rent or live in an apartment no one should miss out on solar power in their homes,” Bowen said.
These five batteries offer a total storage capacity of 770kW/2061kWh, helping bring down power costs for the retirement village residents and shop tenants by storing excess solar energy and earning money for supporting the electricity grid.
The rollout is part of a larger project to install 39 community batteries across South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland by mid-2026.
At the heart of the project is the Hydro Tasmania Virtual Power Plant (VPP), managed by Momentum Energy.
A Virtual Power Plant is a network of energy assets that can be remotely controlled. They can include batteries, generators, or controllable loads like refrigeration systems. These assets pool their capacity so they can optimise a customer’s energy use and also respond to help balance supply and demand in the grid.
“This is about giving organisations more control over their energy use,” Momentum Energy managing director Lisa Chiba said.
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“Our VPP helps customers buy and sell electricity at the right time, saving money and supporting the grid.”
The project received funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) as part of the Community Battery Round 1 under ARENA’s Advancing Renewables Program.
