North Kirra Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) has taken a significant step towards energy independence. With a new 50kWh battery system donated by RESINC, the club is now better equipped to serve its community, especially during emergencies.
This initiative aligns with the launch of the Cheaper Home Batteries Program on 1 July 2025. Energy Minister Chris Bowen officially switched on the system, marking a milestone in community energy solutions.
Leigh Storr, CEO of RESINC, shared the motivation behind choosing the Anker SOLIX X1 hybrid system:
“Anker is a fantastic product, amazingly robust, beautifully designed. Right here on the coast is the harshest conditions in Australia, we’re literally 100 metres from the ocean’s front. The Anker battery has C5M, which is a marine anti-corrosion rating.”
Technical specifications of the Anker SOLIX X1 system
The Anker SOLIX X1 Hybrid Three-Phase Energy Storage System is designed for both residential and commercial applications. Key specifications include:
- Inverter output power: Up to 12kW per unit
- Scalability: Supports up to six parallel systems, allowing for a total capacity of up to 180kWh
- Battery type: Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO₄)
- Efficiency: Up to 98.1%
- Operating temperature range: -25°C to +60°C
- Ingress protection: IP66 rated, suitable for outdoor installation
- Monitoring: Cloud-based app and local display for real-time monitoring
- Warranty: 10 years for both battery modules and inverter components
Enhancing community resilience
The integration of this advanced energy system ensures that North Kirra SLSC can maintain operations during power outages. With 50kWh of storage, the club can provide essential services when the grid goes down, a critical feature during emergencies.
Leigh Storr highlighted the broader impact of such donations:
“Our donations to surf clubs are totalling over $1 million…they’re saving over $300,000 a year, combined, in electricity bills. That’s money they don’t have to raise just to keep the lights on. That’s money saved year on year, for the next 25 plus years, going to saving lives on our beaches and going back into the community.”
Government support and future outlook
Energy Minister Chris Bowen expressed optimism about the Cheaper Home Batteries Program:
“We’re two days in and it’s going really well (the Cheaper Home Batteries Program). The Clean Energy Regulator has done a great job of getting everything ready. The Department has done a great job of getting everything ready, and the sector has done a great job of getting everything ready.”
He also emphasised consumer protection:
“The program will run to 2030…it’s important that the consumer comes first, and I’ll be watching that. We’re in this together, but I want to make sure that the consumer is getting good products…I don’t want overselling and people with batteries that they don’t need. I’m very confident…the sector is highly regulated, good people doing the right thing…we’ll be fine.”
Where industry meets community
The collaboration between RESINC, Anker SOLIX, and North Kirra SLSC exemplifies how innovative energy solutions can bolster community services. As Australia continues to embrace renewable energy, such initiatives pave the way for a more resilient and sustainable future.
