The first of its kind for Australia trial is set to make battery storage more accessible and manageable for Western Australians.
In a nation-first residents in Meadow Springs will have access to a shared power storage facility with the launch of the Western Power and Synergy community Powerbank trial.
Energy Minister Ben Wyatt unveiled the trial site, which will see a utility-scale battery integrated into an already-established major metropolitan network, allowing a shared storage service to meet an individual customer’s needs.
A 105kW Tesla battery will be owned and operated by Western Power and Synergy and connected to the grid in Meadow Springs, allowing households with solar panels to maximise their existing grid connection.
“PowerBank is an ‘in front of the meter’ storage trial which allows invited local customers to store excess electricity from already installed solar PV systems to then use it during peak times," Energy Minister Ben Wyatt said.
“This is another Australian milestone for the application of utility-scale batteries for the benefit for customers, drawing on the groundbreaking work by Synergy in its Alkimos Beach energy storage trial.
“For the first time in Australia, a utility-scale battery will be integrated into an established suburb’s network, like Meadow Springs, that has a high level of existing solar PV uptake."
Customers participating in the 24-month trial will be able to virtually store excess power they generate during the day from their solar PV systems in the battery, and then draw down on that power during the peak evening period.
Trial participants will be able to use 8kWhs of the PowerBank battery storage without having to outlay upfront costs for a behind the meter battery storage system.y.
Mr Wyatt said Synergy would begin the recruitment of participants for the trial today with those eligible to be contacted by mail.
“At the cost of one dollar a day, customers will have access to 8kWh of battery storage to use any time after 3pm each day," he said.
“This trial shows that the WA Government is serious about working with renewables, delivering for taxpayers and planning for our energy future.”
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