Powercor has selected a site for the new Maldon community battery, designed to support more solar exports, maintain power reliability and reduce carbon emissions.
The battery will be installed in Adair Street, opposite the Maldon Hospital, with the site selected following months of engagement with homes and businesses.
The 100kW/290kWh battery is designed to soak up excess rooftop solar generation and supply up to 50 nearby properties during peak periods for up to three hours, allowing locals to share more of their excess solar. Installation is expected to begin in coming months.
This project is jointly funded by Powercor and the Federal Government’s Community Batteries for Household Solar program.
Powercor Head of Network Program Management, Andrew Bailey, said the utility had investigated multiple sites and had identified Adair Street as the most suitable based on feedback from neighbouring properties, the visual impact and reliability benefits it would deliver for the local electricity network.
“The location is ideal as it will provide both community and network benefits, helping locally generated solar power be used locally,” Mr Bailey said.
“The battery will soak up and store excess solar generated from solar systems during the day, and discharge it back into the grid later in the day when demand for power rises.”
Around 39 per cent of residential customers in both the 3463 postcode and the Mount Alexander Shire have rooftop solar installed, above the network average of 28 per cent.
The ground-mounted battery is about the size of a small car and will consist of three cubicles (two for the battery bank and one for the controls) on a concrete base. It measures approximately 2.5m long, 1.1m wide, and 2.1m high.
Once installed, the battery’s exterior will be painted by a local indigenous artist, in line with the council’s heritage guidelines.
The community will help shape the battery’s final look, with Powercor soon to release two art designs that residents can vote on.
Federal Member for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters, welcomed the announcement.
“I’m so excited by the news that a location has been found for the Maldon Community Battery,” Ms Chesters said.
“This battery was an election commitment that has been delivered by the Federal Government and it will be a significant community asset for Maldon residents.”
“It’s going to help the electricity grid manage more solar exports, helping locals make the most of their investment in rooftop solar. The news that it’s going to be delivered in a way that respects the local heritage streetscape and in consultation with community is an added bonus.”
Construction is due to begin in May 2025, with the battery expected to be operating in the first half of 2025.
