862: Adjournment Matters
Kat Theophanous to ask the Minister for Energy and Resources —
(862) My question is to the Minister for Energy and Resources, and I ask that she arrange a briefing for me on the progress of the Alphington neighbourhood battery. This is a project proudly funded by the Allan Labor government through the neighbourhood battery initiative, and it has been delivered by a fantastic volunteer-run community organisation, Village Power. When it comes online, the 300-kilowatt-hour battery will support around a hundred households, helping to address rising energy costs by enabling families to store and use renewable energy when it is most needed. At a time when families are feeling the burden of cost-of-living pressures this project offers real relief. It will work by storing excess energy generated by solar panels in a shared battery, and participating homes can draw that energy out when they need it. At peak times the village power bank may sell some excess energy to the electricity grid to reduce the price of power for the network.
One of the great things about this model is that it is inclusive of people without solar panels. If you join up can buy solar power generated by your neighbours, making it available to many more renters and apartment dwellers and spreading the benefits of cleaner energy to more households in our community.
I want to commend the team at Village Power, headed up by outstanding Alphington local Graeme Martin, for their wonderful vision and the enormous amount of work and advocacy they have put in to get to this point. I have been really proud to support them through their journey, from facilitating their early discussions with Solar Victoria to backing their successful application for feasibility funds and later for implementation funds. They are also master collaborators, drawing support from Jemena, Darebin council, the Commonwealth and lots of industry experts. I think they might have the whole of Alphington cheering them on for their project.
We are excited for this battery; we want to see it succeed. It is part of our Labor government’s bold ambition and commitment to reach 95 per cent renewable energy by 2035. It is part of our story – to get more homes onto solar, to help more households with their power bills, to support a clean energy workforce and to work towards a more sustainable future for our kids. I am looking forward to the minister arranging a briefing so I can update the Alphington community on this vital renewable energy project.
Answer - 18 November 2024
Thank you for your interest and support of Village Power’s Neighbourhood Battery Initiative Round 3 project. The $10.92 million Neighbourhood Battery Initiative supports a range of neighbourhood battery models in Victoria, from feasibility to implementation. The initiative is helping to understand the role neighbourhood-scale batteries can play in Victoria’s transitioning electricity system, and demonstrate a range of benefits for Victorian communities, energy users and electricity networks.
I am happy to arrange a briefing from the Department to you on the progress of this project.
VP has been progressing their project and navigating the challenges that arise from implementation of a unique and new technology, supported by the Neighbourhood Battery team in my Department.
In February 2024 VP received the draft lease agreement from the Darebin City Council for the battery location in Alphington, but I understand that due to challenges in finding an insurer, the lease agreement is yet to be finalised.
VP has successfully run a tender process, identifying a preferred supplied that may be able to own, operate and insure the battery in partnership with VP. Negotiations are ongoing but are on track to deliver the project, with assistance from the Department.
The next step for this project is for Darebin City Council and the preferred supplier to sign a lease agreement, which is slated to occur shortly.
VP has faced challenges that can be expected for such a new and innovative project and, with the support of DEECA, are working collaboratively with Darebin City Council and their preferred supplier to complete their Neighbourhood Battery project.
Hon Lily D’Ambrosio MP
Minister for Climate Action
Minister for Energy and Resources
Minister for the State Electricity Commission
