SA Power Networks received funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to deliver a portfolio of community batteries across South Australia.

Community batteries have the potential to improve the operation of the electricity network, as well as bringing a number of benefits for the communities within which they operate.

The project will trial a range of community battery use cases and build SA Power Networks’ expertise and understanding of community batteries to enable their deployment at scale across its network.

SA Power Networks’ portfolio of batteries will trial three battery use cases:

• Two High Voltage network support batteries
• Four EV charger support batteries
• Two community resilience batteries

Detailed planning and design, and engagement with suppliers to progress the purchase and installation of the batteries has now commenced, as well as engagement with the seven relevant Councils.

High Voltage (HV) Network Support Batteries

Two batteries will be installed at Robe and Lameroo, on our existing sub-station site to provide support to specific HV lines in SA Power Networks network. This support service will be in terms of peak load management and voltage management to improve the capacity of the network in targeted regional locations.

These batteries provide community benefit by improving grid reliability and enabling more renewable energy to be generated and consumed in Robe and Lameroo.

These community batteries can act as a cheaper, faster alternative than augmenting the network in certain parts of the state.

EV Charger Support Batteries

Four batteries will be designed to support and enable the installation of Electric Vehicle (EV) fast chargers in regional towns across South Australia.

These batteries will minimise the impact of new fast EV charger connections on the SA Power Networks’ network, in locations where connecting fast EV chargers has so-far been prohibitively expensive due to network constraints.

SA Power Networks is currently working with the Government of South Australia and regional councils to identify optimal sites for these batteries.

Community Resilience Batteries

Two batteries will be specifically designed to ensure community services are maintained in areas that are vulnerable to long duration, widespread power outages in regional and remote areas, especially during extreme weather. The benefit of these batteries is that during an extended power outage, the battery will supply critical community services in town centres.

We have commenced engagement with councils in potential deployment locations to identify sites that meet the site-specific criteria. The final locations will be determined by the identification of suitable sites.

Over the next few months, we will confirm engagement requirements with councils and start developing engagement collateral and project updates.

More information

For more information, and to ask any questions, see our Talking Power website