Community-driven plans for solar energy hit WA

Western Australian customers are set to be the first in the country to use community-focused Powerbanks. Designed to be used as a ‘neighbourhood battery’, these developments fall under the Distributed Energy Resources Roadmap, in a bid to support rooftop solar and batteries as a primary source of electricity.

Powerbanks let customers store excess electricity generated across the day, and access it in times when light isn’t around – like night. They can even share it with neighbours and local networks can use them to manage the overall grid or decrease grid costs.

The best part is that energy bills for customers are significantly decreased, even if a specific household doesn’t own a solar array. If a homeowner cannot install a system or battery – like tenants of apartments – they’re still able to make use of the incentives.

Clean Energy Council’s Director of Distributed Energy Darren Gladman said solar rooftops are expected to rise in coming years, and this is the first step to embracing that.

“This is the sort of energy policy all Australian energy customers need,” he said. “Australians love solar and in coming years, we expect rooftop solar to supply more than half of our electricity needs.

“All governments should follow WA’s lead by embracing the opportunities for solar batteries.”

Local communities identified for the initial rollout

Suburbs across Canning Vale, Ellenbrook, Leda, Parmelia, Port Kennedy, Dunsborough, Singleton, Two Rocks and Wanneroo are all included in the first phase of the rollout. Pinpointed for the end of 2020, these towns will get to see Powerbanks in full-swing, as bodies continue to assess their ongoing viability.

Gladman also noted that this plan proves that solar can mutually benefit everyone, including those unable to directly access installations on their own property.

“When every suburb has its own community Powerbank, our electricity system will be fairer, cleaner, cheaper and more reliable and more neighbourly.”

On top of this, Powerbank initiatives will change the way networks are currently operated giving rise to solar supply across the state. Currently, rooftop systems carry an output that’s three times the size of the biggest coal-fired generator in WA.

References:

Clean Energy Council: official announcement: https://www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au/news/wa-leads-with-neighbourly-solar-energy-plan

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