Low-income and vulnerable households in Magill and Edwardstown will be among the first South Australians to benefit from lower power prices under a new community battery program.
The State Government today confirmed the sites of the two community batteries, at Tuku Wirra Reserve in Magill and Towers Terrace in Edwardstown, to service 600 eligible households.
Funded by a $1 million grant through the Commonwealth’s $200m Community Batteries for Household Solar initiative, the emPowering Magill and emPowering Edwardstown community batteries will lower annual electricity bills for eligible participants by as much as $562 a year on current figures.
The batteries will also contribute to lower emissions, support future solar installations and help stabilise the electricity grid by absorbing excess energy.
Crucially, the 150 kilowatt/405 kilowatt-hour community batteries at Magill and Edwardstown will also store excess energy from the grid when renewable energy is abundant and make it available at night, during periods of high demand or when the grid needs support.
This mirrors the way individual household solar and battery systems function, but extends the benefits of these renewable energy technologies more widely, to South Australian families who need it most.
Housing SA tenants living near the community batteries will be invited to voluntarily join the SA Virtual Power Plant (SA VPP) scheme. On joining they will sign up with Energy Locals, an Australian-owned electricity retailer.
The Energy Locals contract is currently set at 25 per cent below the Default Market Offer - for a household with average annual electricity consumption that equates to a $562 saving.
Tenants closest to the batteries will receive offers first, until the target number of 300 participant households is reached at each location.
The batteries will be operated by Tesla, which manages the SA VPP.
Construction on both sites is expected to commence in the first half of this year.
Quotes
Attributable to Tom Koutsantonis
We have long maintained that no one will be left behind in the renewable energy transition that is happening right now, and this program reaffirms that commitment.
South Australians who rent or are on low or fixed incomes have fewer opportunities to control their electricity bills through the adoption of renewable energy technologies. Many in this situation find upfront costs for solar panels and home batteries prohibitive, while agreements with landlords can be complex to negotiate.
The emPowering Magill and emPowering Edwardstown will provide real reductions on power bills for the 600 participating households, while supporting the broader uptake of household solar infrastructure not just in South Australia but nationwide.
Attributable to Nat Cook
New community batteries build on the thousands of homes we’ve already connected to our Virtual Power Plant – with both programs helping with the cost of living through lower power prices, providing greater energy reliability and helping our environment. Importantly, these programs help households who often don’t have the private resources to install renewable energy generation or new storage appliances.
Our government is committed to a fair and sustainable energy transition. Community batteries are helping to share the benefits of this transition with households who need it most but may not be able to install their own devices.
With thousands of homes already connected to our Tesla Virtual Power Plant and thousands more on the way, today’s announcement means hundreds more local households will get lower prices and share in the transition to better future.
Attributable to Federal MP for Boothby Louise Miller-Frost
This is a great opportunity for residents in Edwardstown who can most benefit from extra assistance to make real savings on their energy costs.
These community batteries will help in stabilising the grid by storing excess renewable energy during the day for use at night – while of course providing access to cheaper renewable energy for local residents and businesses.
Attributable to Senator Marielle Smith
This community battery will be warmly welcomed by the local community in Magill, where residents have long been telling me they want to see more investment in renewable energy.
This project builds on our broader cost of living relief measures, sharing the benefits of community batteries and providing cleaner, cheaper power to participating South Australian households.
Attributable to Campbelltown Mayor Jill Whittaker
Campbelltown City Council is committed to tackling climate change and leading our City towards a climate-resilient and sustainable future, and this includes supporting the Magill Community Battery to deliver renewables and the cheapest available residential electricity rate in SA to SA Housing households in our Council area.
I am pleased that Campbelltown has been selected as one of the first areas in SA to have a Community Battery installed - it will not only help at least 300 Campbelltown households but will also benefit others as it will assist to stabilise the grid in the area and may help prevent blackouts.
