An opportunity is being presented to Noosa to use locally-created solar power locally instead of exporting it to the grid, resulting in an increasing use of renewable power and decrease in carbon emissions.
This is important to Zero Emissions Noosa (ZEN) Inc which was formed in 2015 with an aim to attain zero community emissions by 2026.
Community batteries are an initiative ZEN and Noosa Council are exploring after receiving a state government grant to develop a roadmap for a network of community batteries in the Noosa Shire, working in partnership with Yarra Energy Foundation, The Social Deck, Changing Weather, Energex and University of Sunshine Coast.
After conducting community consultation sessions at Cooroy and Noosaville Noosa Council’s carbon reduction officer Annie Nolan and ZEN’s co-convenor of the Noosa Community Battery Initiative Geoff Acton spoke at last week’s Noosa Parks Association’s Friday forum.
“Noosa has a love affair with solar with more than 50 per cent of dwellings having installed it to date. In the past year rooftop solar has increased by 23 per cent. What is happening is an increase of solar exports. We have times when there is more solar produced than consumed and it’s increasing year on year. It would be nice to capture solar and store it locally,“ Geoff said.
Community batteries have already been installed in other parts of the country with the first in Fitzroy, Melbourne.
ZEN and council have submitted a grant application to obtain one of 400 community batteries up for grabs in Queensland and, if successful, they have selected McGregor Park, Noosaville as the most appropriate site for its location.
Geoff said the site was selected because of the number of houses in the area with solar power (70 per cent) and a range of other considerations including native title and threat levels from floods and bushfires.
Consultation of local residents was undertaken and Energex provided written support for the installation of a battery, he said.
Annie said the first battery would be considered a pilot project that would deliver power to 74 local houses but would present no change to those residents involved. There would be no change to their access to power, no change to power bills, no costs incurred for equipment or maintenance and any financial gain would be quarantined for future emission projects, she said.
“This is a pilot to understand the technology,“ she said.
How does it work?
Excess power from rooftop solar charges the battery in the day and houses draw on the power at night.
“We’re lucky to have ZEN here. They’re doing all the heavy lifting,“ Annie said.
“We put in for a grant and got it to develop a plan on how it would look with a network of batteries connecting with rooftop solar.
“ZEN prepared for the grant. They looked for sites for the battery. They counted solar panels. We looked into why council would own and operate a community battery, as it had to be run and maintained. Council was the obvious choice to run it.
“The battery has the potential to make revenue and we can use the revenue to invest in more opportunities.“
Annie said council agreed to be responsible for the battery, working with ZEN and with Yarra Energy Foundation as consultants.
After getting the co-ahead from council to proceed with the grant application Council and ZEN are now waiting to see if they have been successful in obtaining $500,000 Federal funding for the first community battery.
In the meantime consideration is underway to apply for separate grant funding being made available by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (Arena) for $3 million for five community batteries.
Geoff said in preparing the roadmap of future Noosa battery needs it became clear 100-200 batteries would be required.
“That’s all possible. That’s where we’re going,“ Annie said.
“Our goal is de-carbonisation and other benefits will include lower power costs.
“The last thing we need to do for the roadmap study is work out how to parent with people and obtain funding. We have a committed council, a community that’s supportive and Energex on board – that’s all the conditions for funding to come here.“
