Community Battery Project
In February 2023, Council secured a $500,000 federal government Batteries for Household Solar grant, in partnership with Yarra Energy Foundation (YEF) and the Noosa not-for-profit community organisation Zero Emissions Noosa Inc (ZEN Inc).
YEF have already installed and are operating a community battery in North Fitzroy Victoria.
The Federal Government’s Community Batteries for Household Solar program will deploy 400 community-scale batteries across Australia.
Round 1 of this program provided grant funding for 50 nominated locations across Australia. Noosaville was one of the nominated locations. Find out more about the federal government’s grant program.
What is a community battery?
A community battery is a locally shared battery within a community that enables storage of excess rooftop solar generated electricity, which can be used at a later time.
They essentially act as a ‘solar sponge’ – storing excess clean, cheap, and local solar energy (generated by rooftop solar arrays within the community) for use later in the day when demand is higher, and the sun is no longer shining.
Community batteries support renewable generation by providing energy storage for the excess solar that was generated during the day and making it available in the evening.
How does a community battery work?
Community batteries, often called neighbourhood batteries, are located in the low voltage network – at the local street level. They can be located on the ground or on poles. There are several factors that need to be considered when locating the community battery in Noosaville. These factors include:
- Available accessible land to locate the battery within Noosaville
- Proximity to the existing infrastructure in the low-voltage network
- Solar density within the local transformer
- Number of customers connected to the low voltage network
- Limitations on the network due to high solar export
- Environmental, visual, safety considerations
- Acceptance by the local community
Batteries are an important part in the transition to renewable energy. The Australian National University has provided a terrific explanation of how community batteries can benefit our local communities.
For in-depth information about neighbourhood batteries, visit the Yarra Energy Foundation.
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To stay updated on the Noosaville Community Battery Project register your interest via email.
Frequently asked questions
Council gratefully acknowledge the dedicated work of ZEN Inc for their initial community education and engagement work on community batteries and Yarra Energy Foundation with the emerging electricity asset class of community batteries. Much of these FAQs have drawn upon their published work.
Who owns the community battery?
Noosa Council will be the owner and operator of the community battery. The community battery will be operated by a 3rd party specialist and will buy and sell electricity in the National Electricity Market (NEM).
Why would Noosa Council own the battery?
There are a number of different ownership models for a community battery such as DNSPs such as Distributed Network Service Providers (DNSPs) such as Energex; electricity retailers or private investors. A Noosa Council owned model aims to provide the most equitable transition to renewable energy and provides decarbonisation benefits for the Shire. Profits from battery by participating in the National Energy Markets will be used for further decarbonisation projects across the shire in consultation with the community.
What problems do community batteries solve?
Rapid uptake in solar is causing ‘congestion’ in the electricity network, that is, more renewable energy than the grid can handle. Unfortunately, if renewable energy can’t be used, exported to the grid, or stored, it is wasted.
Community batteries address this problem by absorbing and storing excess energy from rooftop solar and releasing it during peak times when it is needed most.
Neighbourhood-scale batteries are a more affordable and cost-effective solution for renewable energy storage than individual household batteries, which are still prohibitively expensive for most people.
With community batteries, we can make our energy system more resilient, climate friendly, equitable, and affordable.
Image courtesy of Yarra Energy Foundation
How will a battery reduce carbon emissions?
Battery storage supports the transition to a renewable energy system by providing system services currently provided by fossil fuel generators. They can support adoption of greater amounts of rooftop solar and 'firm' the supply of variable renewable energy. In time, batteries will also reduce emissions by reducing the reliance on non-renewable energy sources.
Do I have to sign up to utilise the community battery?
No, all residents in the catchment area will automatically participate in the benefits of a community battery, at no additional cost to you. All arrangements with your retailer will remain the same. The power exported to the grid from local rooftops will charge the battery during the day when the sun is shining. Feed-in tariffs provided by your electricity retailer will remain exactly the same. The excess power from rooftop solar will be stored in the community battery. Then at night when you are using electricity which is usually drawn from a coal-fired power station, the community battery will increase the amount of renewable energy in your electricity consumption.
I don’t have solar – how will I benefit from the community battery?
There are many reasons why some households can’t install solar on their roof. However the community battery helps all households to increase the amount of renewable energy that your family uses during the evening, regardless whether they have solar or not. Over the longer term, community batteries will also benefit everybody by deferring or avoiding costly grid upgrades.
Will I see a change in my electricity bills?
No, the community battery will not directly change your electricity bill.
Can I draw on it during a black out?
No. The battery is not designed for emergency back-up electricity supply.
Who will benefit from the community battery?
Community batteries help stabilise peaks and troughs in local renewable energy capacity. They store solar when it’s abundant and release it when the sun goes down and more households are using electricity. This can help solve local issues, such as power quality issues caused by voltage rise and drop; network constraints that can limit households from installing solar; and reducing the need for costly grid investments from network companies, putting downward pressure on energy prices.
Furthermore, across the grid, batteries are essential for shifting to a renewable energy system, as they provide many of the services that coal and gas generators have offered in the past.
In short community batteries:
Improve stability of the grid by absorbing excess solar and reducing load in times of high demand.
What does a community battery look like ?
Each battery consists of storage units and a control unit. Typically each of these units is similar in size to a large refrigerator (700mm W x 800mm D x 2100mm H) and the number of units depends on the chosen storage capacity. The community battery in Noosaville will follow the Noosa Design Principles and could be aesthetically pleasing through landscaping. Some community batteries have embraced community art .
Does the community battery make any noise?
The battery would make noise when charging and discharging. Typically, this occurs during the day when the sun is shining and, in the evening, especially during periods of peak demand, but not at night. Battery systems will typically include a standard air conditioning unit, which will make noise. Noise can also be managed with acoustic treatment within or outside of the battery unit.
Generally speaking, community battery noise levels can range from about 50-70 decibels at 1 metre from the unit, depending on the model. 50 dB can be equated to the sound of a conversation at home, and 70 dB can be equated to a vacuum cleaner. The Pixii battery system, which will be used for this project, was selected because it was the quietest system of the options assessed at the time.
From the experience of Yarra Energy Foundation’s community battery installed in Fitzroy North on a neighbourhood nature strip, noise has not been an issue for residents even in a built-up residential area.
Are community batteries safe?
Yes, the batteries that we are proposing to install are safe. Our selection of suppliers and our testing of their technology follow a rigorous process to ensure that they operate safely and do not pose a fire threat and operate within Australian standards for Electro-Magnetic Fields (EMF).
What is the location of the battery?
The battery will be located in McGregor Park (Corner of Shire Drive & Lindfield Cct).
How was the location selected?
A number of factors were considered when choosing the location at McGregor Park, Shire Drive, Noosaville, including the number of solar installations in the area, electricity network constraints in the area, safety, environmental factors, and projected growth of solar installations.
When will the community battery be installed?
The community battery will be installed later in 2025.
What is the capacity of the battery?
What happens to any possible benefits generated by the battery project?
A Community Advisory Group will advise on how any possible benefits generated from the battery could be used for the local community.
Will the battery be Electric Vehicle capable?
Do they produce electromagnetic field (EMF) radiation, and is this a health concern?
Electric and magnetic fields (EMFs) are everywhere in the environment and are produced by anything with an electric current flowing through it. Electrical infrastructure like electrical lines and transformers also produces electric and magnetic fields. There is no scientific evidence finding that electric or magnetic fields produced within existing international standards cause ill health effects. All Pixii systems comply with international standards made by the key industry body, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
Are they a fire hazard, how will you manage fire risk?
The project team’s selection of suppliers and testing of their technology has followed a rigorous process to ensure that this battery system operates safely. The key risk around fire relates to improper use and damage. This is why we’re working closely with Pixii (the supplier), and Acacia (the project manager) to ensure the safe installation of the battery and conditions for its safe use. The battery will adhere to international and local standards as well as best practice guidelines. These include:
- AS5139: Electrical installations – Safety of battery systems for use with power conversion equipment.
- UL9540A Test Method which verifies fire performance.
Are community batteries made of lithium and where does it come from?
There will be a strong focus on life-cycle sustainability in the selection of the Noosaville community battery. As an example, the battery selected for the Fitzroy North community battery, the Pixii PowerShaper, is by far the most sustainable battery model from a lifecycle analysis point of view out of more than a dozen options evaluated through an exhaustive assessment and evaluation process. The battery module manufacturers (Polarium) are the first in the world to announce manufacturing of battery modules made with 100% renewable energy and up to 95% of the physical materials used in the PowerShaper are recyclable.
What is the life expectancy of the battery?
The battery is expected to operate for at least 10 years.
What happens at the end of life of the community battery?
An important element in choice of battery technology will be whether battery components can be recycled at end of life. A key factor in the battery manufacturer chosen by YEF was that up to 95% of all materials in battery cells can be recycled into producing new cells.