Community battery switches on to help power CBD apartments with excess rooftop solar

The City of Melbourne has switched on the first of three community batteries which are designed to accelerate the city’s transition to 100 per cent renewable energy by 2030, on its way to net-zero emissions by 2040.

The batteries are being rolled out under a program called Power Melbourne, which in its initial pilot phase will see three batteries installed at Council House, Boyd Community Hub, and Library at the Dock.

The first of these three batteries, located at Council House in Melbourne’s CBD, was switched on Wednesday and, when all three are online later this year, will boast a combined capacity of 450kW/1.1MWh.

“Power Melbourne aims to deliver lower power bills and greener energy for businesses and residents in the City of Melbourne by capturing solar energy, storing it and feeding it back into the community,” said Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp.

“Approximately 83 per cent of City of Melbourne residents live in apartments, without the means to install their own solar panels. This is the next step in empowering individuals to access clean, renewable and cheaper energy.”

“Power Melbourne will accelerate the city’s transition to renewable energy, while driving new investments and creating jobs.”

The second battery will be switched on next month at Boyd Community Hub in Southbank, with the third battery at Library at the Dock to be installed later this year.

Power Melbourne has also committed to link the batteries to a Community Benefit Fund which will support local renewable projects.

As with most community batteries being built around the country, the three Power Melbourne batteries will play host to artwork from some of Melbourne’s local creative talent, with contemporary artist Mysterious Al designing artwork for the Council House battery.  

Rollout of the batteries is being completed in partnership with Australian energy utility Origin Energy, through its subsidiary Origin Zero, which was selected to install and operate the batteries through a tender process.

This initial pilot phase of Power Melbourne will run for around 18 months and test the local energy storage model in advance of further expansion.

“We’re excited to partner with the City of Melbourne to help realise its vision to provide residents and businesses with access to more affordable energy, while supporting the transition to renewable energy,” said James Magill, Origin Zero’s executive general manager, speaking earlier this year.

“Power Melbourne is an exciting and ambitious program. This first stage will see our Origin Zero team, which works with large businesses and councils, install three batteries with a combined capacity of 450 kW / 1MWh – equivalent to powering more than 70 homes each day.”