Endeavour Energy has switched on the first community battery in Western Sydney, with residents in Bungarribee Blacktown invited to participate in the community battery trial.
Endeavour Energy Chief Executive Officer, Guy Chalkley, joined New South Wales Minister for Climate Change and Minister for Energy, Penny Sharpe, Member for Blacktown Stephen Bali, Blacktown City Mayor, Tony Bleasdale, and Origin Energy Chief Executive Officer, Frank Calabria, to formally launch Western Sydney’s first community battery and invite residents to join the program.
Mr Chalkley said that community batteries are one of the ways Endeavour Energy is investing to help shape Western Sydney as a green energy hub.
“As the electricity network that has been powering Western Sydney for more than 130 years, our customers and community rely on us to support their daily lives and livelihoods,” Mr Chalkley said.
“The Bungarribee Community Battery is a first for Western Sydney, but the first of many more to come. It is an exciting innovation that will see our customers both be a part of, and benefit from the energy transition, whether they have rooftop solar or not, and whether they own their home or are renting.
“The installation of community batteries supports our target of becoming climate positive by 2040 and is part of our transition to a modern, clean energy grid that meets the changing needs of our customers with customers able to generate, store and share their energy.”
Blacktown City Mayor, Tony Bleasdale, welcomed both the battery to Bungarribee and the environmental and financial wins for the community.
“Blacktown City Council strongly supports the use of community batteries. This is the first community battery installed in Blacktown City and I am delighted that it will support our residents in reducing their household energy costs and their household carbon footprint,” Mayor Bleasdale said.
“Council enthusiastically welcomes more community batteries across our city. The battery at Bungarribee will allow residents to access lower cost, environmentally friendly, renewable solar power without the cost of installing a battery or solar system.”
Origin Energy will be providing the platform for customers to participate in the battery trial. Origin Energy will also orchestrate the energy stored in the battery, including dispatch to the wholesale market and work with Endeavour Energy to support electricity demand management.
Origin Energy Chief Executive Officer, Frank Calabria said, “We are pleased to be partnering with Endeavour Energy on this initiative, which recognises the value of batteries to customers and the rapidly changing energy market.
“We look forward to providing customers in Western Sydney with the chance to participate in this trial and believe there are strong opportunities to help communities enjoy the benefits of community batteries,” Mr Calabria said.
Featured image: Endeavour Energy Operations Manager, Steve Catto, switches on the community battery. Courtesy of Endeavour Energy.
