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Bondi Community Battery

Ausgrid, in partnership with the Australian Government, will deliver a community battery for the Bondi community.As we ramp up renewable generation, we know we will need more energy storage throughout the system to provide secure and affordable energy for Australian businesses and households.

Community batteries are a shared asset that offers the local community a stronger network and better solar hosting capacity - meaning more solar can be accommodated on the local network. The battery could store locally generated energy and then make this renewable energy available when it is needed.

In April last year, we asked for your feedback on a proposed location for a new community battery in Bondi Beach. Overall, the community was very supportive of the proposal.

Thank you for providing your feedback, we will progress with the location for the battery at the Francis Street road closure opposite Thomas Hogan Reserve.

Community Consultation

We have considered several factors in determining an appropriate battery site such as safety, accessibility, traffic conditions and motorist visibility, environmental considerations, and the network constraints in the area.  

 

Ausgrid identified a potential battery site in Bondi and consulted the community on the location for the battery at Thomas Hogan Reserve, 140 Francis Street, Bondi Beach.

Following feedback received, we have relocated the battery site to Francis Street road closure, opposite Thomas Hogan Reserve, Bondi Beach,.

We are proposing a visual design on the battery to represent the local community.  

 

We are exploring the idea of wrapping the battery in a First Nations artwork that will reflect the rich heritage of the area.  

We have heard from our communities that they want to understand how the battery works throughout the day.

 

We will create an online information hub where community members can see local solar stored and emissions data. Customers can visit the website or scan the QR code on the battery to learn more.

Ausgrid invited the local Bondi community to inform this potential project. Your feedback has helped us shape our strategy for the community battery program.

We held an open consultation between 26 April - 19 May 2023 and welcomed feedback through the following channels:

  • Online surveys
  • Email sharedbattery@ausgrid.com.au
  • Call 1800 995 674 (Mon - Fri 09:00 to 16:30 AEST)
  • Postal Mail to Ausgrid Community Battery Project, GPO Box 4009, Sydney NSW 2001
  • Onsite community workshop at Thomas Hogan Reserve, Saturday 6 May between 10:30am and 12pm

We will continue to keep the community informed as the project progresses.

Factsheet

FAQS

  • Community batteries are key to supporting the energy system as we rely on more variable renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. Community batteries are connected to the local distribution network which services nearby residents and small businesses. The battery stores and distributes electricity from the local grid to share with the local community and wider energy system. 
  • Community batteries are uniquely placed to increase the communities use of local solar energy, allow more customers to install solar and charge their electric vehicles, and deliver services to the wider energy market that puts downward pressure on wholesale costs. 
  • Ausgrid will provide an information hub to show how the battery contributes to the community and the wider system, and continue to explore with communities how best to share value.
  • Community batteries are a shared asset that offers the local community a stronger network and better solar hosting capacity. 
  • A stronger grid will reduce the need to limit (curtail) solar exports and help customers maximise their solar investment. 
  • Helps share solar with the local area, including non-solar households, and the wider energy system. 
  • Creates a positive impact on the wholesale energy market that can eventually flow through to retail customer offers. 
  • Helps to regulate voltage on the network and improves network quality in the local area. 
  • Supports more electric devices, such as electric vehicle chargers, to be connected.  
  • Offers a flexible alternative to traditional poles and wires investment and helps lower network costs.  
  • Access to an online information hub where the community can see how much energy was stored and used daily.

Project Links