Kiama Downs community battery goes “live”
Published on 24 May 2024
Joint press release: Kiama Council and Endeavour Energy
Endeavour Energy and Kiama Council today launched its second community battery on the NSW’s South Coast, and is encouraging 100 residents to register and save on their household electricity costs.
The Kiama Community Battery is the third and largest community battery on the Endeavour Energy network, offering 445 kWh of storage capacity, and will enable the residents of Kiama Downs to store and share solar, while supporting all customers by keeping a downward pressure on electricity prices.
It features the artwork of Wulbunja Woman, Jodie Stewart which captures the striking geography of the Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama and Shoalhaven regions.
The Community Battery is part of a program of more than 50 batteries currently being rolled out as Endeavour Energy continues to connect more renewables to the grid. Community batteries at Shell Cove on the NSW South Coast and Bungarribee in Western Sydney are now live, with connected customers benefiting by reducing their household energy through offers from our retail partner, Origin Energy.
Colin Crisafulli, Endeavour Energy's General Manager, Future Grid & Asset Management, said community batteries are providing a new way for communities to use and store solar, with the program open to everyone, even those customers who don’t have their own rooftop solar and those in rental properties.
“The Kiama Downs Community Battery will see both financial and sustainability wins for our customers. Community batteries will also help lower costs for customers across our entire region by improving the efficiency of the network,” he said.
“Customers with household solar are expected to see energy costs reductions of up to $270 per year, while customers without solar will see reduced energy costs of up to $180 per year.
“Endeavour Energy has been providing power to this region for more than 100 years, and as part of the energy transition we are excited to continue to deliver clean, green storage to the South Coast of NSW.
Mr Crisafulli said a further seven batteries will be delivered imminently to the Campbelltown, Liverpool, Shoalhaven, Wingecarribee and Wollondilly areas. Additional batteries are being rolled out across the Endeavour Energy network over the next 18 months as part of the Commonwealth Batteries for Household Solar Program.
The Mayor of Kiama Municipal Council, Neil Reilly welcomed the battery to Kiama.
We’re excited to see our local community battery – the largest in the Endeavour Energy network so far – now in operation and ready to serve the community in Kiama Downs and Minnamurra.
“Kiama Council partnered with Endeavour Energy to find a suitable local location for a community battery in our Municipality and I know a lot of effort has gone into getting this project up and running, with much local interest. I hope it will be the first of many!
“Our community expects their Council to strive for zero emissions, as per our Emissions Reduction Strategy and facilitating a community battery is in line with our goals and targets.”
“I’d like to thank Endeavour Energy, Origin Energy and all the Council Officers who have worked hard to make this local community battery a reality. It’s an asset that will provide benefits to our community and a real step in the right direction for sustainable energy in our region,” said Mayor Reilly.
Origin Energy will provide the platform for customers to participate in the battery trial, and will also orchestrate the energy stored in the battery, including dispatch to the wholesale market, working with Endeavour Energy to support electricity demand management.
“We’re thrilled to help bring another community battery to life in regional New South Wales in partnership with Endeavour Energy, which will give households in Kiama Downs and Minnamurra the opportunity to reduce their energy bills,” Origin’s Executive General Manager – Future Energy & Technology, Tony Lucas, said.
“Through these community battery trials, people can share in the benefits that battery storage provides, regardless of whether they have solar panels and without the upfront cost required to purchase their own battery. We encourage households in the area to engage with this initiative, which will help them harness more renewable energy and save money.”
Residents living within the Kiama Downs trial area are invited to register their interest now at www.endeavourenergy.com.au or by phoning Endeavour Energy on 133 003. Further information on the community battery and trial location is available on the Endeavour Energy website.
BACKGROUND INFO
Community batteries
A community battery works by storing excess solar not used in a home during the day. This energy is then available for participating customers to use during the evening peak. For customers without solar, excess solar generated within the neighbourhood is stored in the community battery and is available for them to use for a small fee.
Customers rent a portion of the battery for a small fee to virtually store and access neighbourhood solar. Participating customers will receive a rebate on the energy they store and use from the battery.
Community batteries can be a more efficient way of managing supply and demand in the electricity network which can become congested in the evenings. Community batteries avoid unnecessary investment in network infrastructure, lowering costs for all customers.
Kiama Downs Community Battery artwork
The Kiama Community battery feature the artwork entitled On Country – Where the Mountains meet the Sea, by Wulbunja woman and Elder Jodie Stewart.
The painting captures the striking geography and strong community connection of Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama and Shoalhaven regions.
The artwork features the Birri Birri (whale) totem representing Kiama, Shellharbour and Wollongong and the Black Cockatoo – the totem for the Shoalhaven. The colours represent the Wodi Wodi people of Dharawal Nation a saltwater people living on the East Coast and the ocean where food is still gathered to this day.
About Endeavour Energy
Endeavour Energy is one of Australia’s most efficient networks, powering NSW’s fastest growing economies and sustaining the jobs and lifestyles of 2.7 million Australians, living and working in Central West NSW, the Blue Mountains, Greater Western Sydney, Southern Highlands, Illawarra and South Coast of NSW.
Endeavour Energy’s asset base includes 430,000 power poles and street light columns, 202 major substations and 32,600 distribution substations, and integrates renewable energy sources including 250,000 residential solar connections, industrial solar and embedded large-scale batteries.
About Kiama Municipal Council
The Municipality of Kiama is located on the south coast of New South Wales Illawarra region, about 120km (90 minutes) by road or rail from Sydney. Nestled between the stunning waters of the ocean and green rolling hills of the hinterland, with mountains, escarpments and rural areas, Kiama Municipality is home to 23,000 people. The Municipality is a popular tourist destination and offers artistic, sporting, artisanal, social and business opportunities. The word ‘Kiama’ is believed to be derived from the Aboriginal word ‘Kiarama-a’. Some sources say it means ‘where the sea makes a noise’ and that this refers to the famous Kiama Blowhole.
About Origin
Origin Energy (ASX: ORG) is a leading Australian integrated energy company. Origin is a leading energy retailer with more than 4.5 million customer accounts, approximately 7,000 MW of power generation capacity and is also a large natural gas producer. Origin’s ambition is to lead the energy transition through cleaner energy and unrivalled customer solutions.