Kurri Kurri will be the home of an Australian-first shared community battery project that aims to transform how neighbourhoods use and share rooftop solar energy.
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The Beehive project will allow 500 participants to buy, sell and trade rooftop solar energy from each other and trade with the battery itself.
The one-megawatt battery at the heart of the project will be installed at an Ausgrid substation near Kurri in 2021.
The shipping container-sized battery will be operated by Enova Energy to maximise its value at the wholesale level and deliver benefits to energy customers and the community.
Enova received funding from the NSW Regional Community Energy Fund to support the implementation of the battery.
"It's great to see the regional community energy sector taking control of their own projects and embracing clean energy," NSW Energy Minister Matt Kean said.
"Innovative renewable energy projects like the Enova shared community battery will help to make electricity more reliable and affordable."
Enova Community Energy chief executive Felicity Stening said community batteries had the potential to change the face of the electricity system.
"With our partners Enosi and University of Newcastle, we're looking forward to generating great results and learnings that can be shared with the broader community, so that the capability to generate, store and share renewable energy can start to be part of the new normal," she said.
Cessnock Council Mayor Bob Pynsent said he was delighted Cessnock had been chosen as the project's home.
"This community battery project is a ground-breaking initiative, there's nothing else like it in Australia. I'm proud that Cessnock City Council has played its part in giving it a home," he said.
"The Hunter region is navigating its way from being seen as only a coal producing region, toward a region of opportunity. This opportunity to support a community energy asset could not have come at a more important time. We're thrilled to invite our community to get involved by registering to participate."
Ausgrid chief customer officer Rob Amphlett Lewis said the company was committed to empowering customers to have greater control of their energy use by harnessing the energy generated by their solar panels.
"We are pleased to be able to work with Enova to provide access to our site and the grid for this project," he said.
Kurri Kurri locals and Hunter region residents are invited to register their application to participate in the shared community battery project, by visiting: www.enovaenergy.com.au/shared-community-battery.
Enova will invite at least 500 households with and without roof top solar to participate.
Project participants can live anywhere in New South Wales. The project will enable them to share and trade rooftop solar energy with each other and the battery.
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IN THE NEWS:
Matthew Kelly
Matthew Kelly has worked as a journalist for more than 25 years. He has been working as a general reporter at the Newcastle Herald since 2018. In recent years he has reported on subjects including environment, energy, water security, manufacturing and higher education. He has previously covered issues including the health and environmental impacts of uncovered coal wagons in the Hunter Valley, the pollution of legacy of former industrial sites and freedom of information issues.
Matthew Kelly has worked as a journalist for more than 25 years. He has been working as a general reporter at the Newcastle Herald since 2018. In recent years he has reported on subjects including environment, energy, water security, manufacturing and higher education. He has previously covered issues including the health and environmental impacts of uncovered coal wagons in the Hunter Valley, the pollution of legacy of former industrial sites and freedom of information issues.
