Docklands to receive new community battery

The state government has announced a new community battery for Docklands, which will be installed at the Library at the Dock as part of the City of Melbourne’s Power Melbourne project.

Victorian Minister for Energy Lily D’Ambrosio announced two new neighbourhood batteries in Richmond and Docklands on November 1 as part of the government’s ambition to “slash emissions and power bills”.

Neighbourhood-scale batteries increase energy stability and enable the grid to support more rooftop solar by storing generated electricity during the day and discharging it back at night.

The City of Melbourne’s Power Melbourne project will build a neighbourhood-scale battery network and retail electricity offering to “enable more renewable energy into the grid and reduce power bills for consumers”. 

As part of the government’s accelerated $10.9 million neighbourhood batteries program, the City of Melbourne will install a 150kW/300kWh system at Library at the Dock, the first in a planned five-megawatt network of neighbourhood-scale batteries.

The batteries will support the government’s “energy storage targets”, reaching a massive 2.6 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy storage capacity by 2030, with an increased target of 6.3 GW of storage by 2035.

Minister D’Ambrosio said, “neighbourhood batteries capture more power from rooftop solar during the day and feed it back in the evening, sharing the cost savings of solar with local communities.”

Lord Mayor Sally Capp said the council was “thrilled” that the state government was getting behind its “ambitious” Power Melbourne project, which “presents exciting opportunities for emissions reductions, as well as job creation and the local economy”.

“This innovative renewable energy initiative will also make it easier and more affordable for local residents and small businesses to access clean energy sources – something that’s important to so many Melburnians,” Cr Capp said.

We know green technology is the way of the future, and Power Melbourne will help us to transition city businesses and residents to renewables – creating energy efficient urban communities that are sustainable, affordable and inclusive.

“We’re committed to creating a more sustainable future for all Melburnians, which is why we’re working towards powering our city with 100 per cent renewable energy by 2030 and achieving net zero emissions by 2040.” 

The council says it is exploring a range of other locations throughout the city for battery assets, including Council House 2, Queen Victoria Market and land owned by Power Melbourne partners. Community consultation is currently under way and closes on November 4.

For more information: participate.melbourne.vic.gov.au/power-melbourne