When too much solar energy is barely enough
The staggering growth in rooftop solar panels over the past 10 years highlights the potential for a revolution in local renewable energy generation, distribution, and consumption. A revolution significantly led and funded by households. This growth is now challenging the energy distribution infrastructure originally designed for a few large coal-burning generators a long way away from consumers.
If we want to meet ambitious but necessary net zero carbon targets to preserve a safer future for anyone under 40 years old and natural icons including the Great Barrier Reef, we need a revolution. The revolution includes more locally generated and used renewable energy. This local model should be supported and encouraged especially if it helps consumers to better understand the critical role they can play in reducing carbon emissions.
Village Power recently took a major step towards this goal with a funding submission to the Victorian Neighbourhood Battery Initiative. Village Power collaborated with the City of Darebin and Monash University to create the submission for (Phase 1) funding to become ready-to-purchase and install a battery shared by local subscribers. The funding would go towards studying and designing a safe connection to the network; legal arrangements for the underlying business entity and refine the commercial model to maximise value to the community of subscribers. On conclusion of this phase, Village Power and partners would be ready to purchase, install and operate the battery in a pilot project. The pilot project, Phase 2, would require further funding.
Village Power’s vision is to support the local community to double the generation of solar energy with the provision of neighbourhood batteries and a business model that reduces the cost of energy to households. The batteries would be set to harvest energy at peak solar time to help stop the network getting overloaded. The pilot project would test and no doubt, tweak the business and operating models before a more ambitious rollout to support the vision.
During the pilot project, data scientists at RACE for 2030 Cooperative Research Centre based at Monash University would undertake analytical modelling of energy and value flows for the pilot battery. RACE for 2030’s mission is to drive innovation for a secure, affordable, clean energy future.
Village Power has worked for 3 years to understand the value streams, the barriers, the cost structure and the network of partnerships required to make neighbourhood batteries viable. The not-for-profit business is also committed to working with other community groups, with the goal of seeding and sharing ideas, and building a network of neighbourhood batteries.
Village Power are very appreciative of the efforts of the Victorian Government to stimulate and explore the potential for neighbourhood batteries through their funding initiative. Village Power’s research has highlighted the potential benefits of community shared batteries. This funding would enable Village Power and others to explore and quantify benefits, issues and constraints to implementing a local energy ecosystem.
Announcements on funding for Phase 1 to become battery ready are due later in May. The Village Power team would welcome any suggestions on funding on Phase 2. Stay in touch with our website and contact the team via info@spatialvision.com.au