Introducing 100% Local Renewable Energy
By Graeme Martin
Village Power (VP) envisaged the deployment of a community-scale battery to support and test a subscription-based utilisation model. The subscriber model would be based on 100 members of the community becoming customers of a selected energy retailer to be able to utilise the battery-as-a-service. Each subscriber would be notionally allocated a portion of the 500kWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), equivalent to 4.5kWh/day per subscriber, for storage of surplus midday energy for utilisation in the peak demand period in the evening. The model would support the principle of enabling more local generation, storage and consumption of renewable energy. We call this Local Renewable Energy (LRE). This local model enhances energy resilience, supports local network load management, enables greater use of renewable energy and would support more solar generation. Working with the community, VP would set a target for the community of subscribers to shift their energy use to local renewable energy. The use of energy by the community (ie each subscriber) would be captured and reported as a total. Each subscriber would agree to make their data available. The fees for utilisation of the battery-as-a-service would be developed in conjunction with the selected energy retailer (commercial partner).
VP has now spent over 18 months, and over 1,400 volunteer hours working towards implementation of the BESS including the selection of a suitable commercial partner. We ran a comprehensive tendering process in 2024 that resulted in Flow Power being selected. After the withdrawal of Flow Power from our project, in 2025 VP ran another shorter but also comprehensive selection process. After going to the market twice we have been unable to find a commercial company willing to offer a service that fulfills the requirements of a battery-as-a-service subscription business model.
Our experience has demonstrated that the current financial and regulatory environment constrains how a retailer can offer a commercially viable discount or deal to subscribers. We consider this to be a market failure.
To continue on our mission, we are pleased to announce the 100% Local Renewable Energy (100% LRE) program that will support households to shift their energy use to locally generated and stored renewable energy.
The 100% LRE program will recruit 100 volunteers representing diverse backgrounds, including renters and homeowners, with and without solar - to share energy data and participate in an energy awareness program focused on sustainable energy and cost savings.
Active participants (subscribers) in the 100% LRE program will agree to share their energy consumption data and get involved in energy awareness activities. The program activities will inform and encourage subscribers to shift their energy usage and become more active participants in the energy system. A university led research program will assess the effectiveness of the program.
What is Local Renewable Energy?
Local Renewable Energy (LRE) is energy that is generated, stored and consumed locally. Our definition is energy generated and used between 9 am and 4 pm, as measured by household meters. This local energy usage is extended via battery storage (BESS), including community and domestic batteries and EVs. VP appreciates that this is a simplistic definition for renewable energy but believes it will help the conceptual understanding of the energy network transition required.
LRE will assist the national energy transition by:
● Reducing reliance on fossil fuels
● Integrating more renewable energy generation from existing assets
● Minimising the impact of shocks in the grid
● Enabling more local solar to be installed, without overloading the grid, and
● Benefiting network providers through avoided new infrastructure costs.
The 500kWh community-scale battery will play a vital role in the capture and storage of energy available during peak times of household solar generation, typically between 9am and 4pm and then discharging energy at times of peak demand. However, there will not be a commercial relationship between the battery and subscribers.
The benefits to the 100 LRE subscribers include:
● Joining a local community taking action on climate change
● Learning how to save money on energy bills
● Participating in the design and development of a new clean energy program that can readily replicated
● Learning about the energy system, role of batteries, renewable energy and the national energy transition
● Sharing ideas and tips on energy use
● Pioneering the role of a ‘community’ battery in energy sharing
● Working towards meeting a community goal of shifting towards more Local Renewable Energy.
The 100% LRE program enables Village Power to continue its mission “to enable the community to take action on climate change through the greater use of renewable energy”. With higher energy awareness, subscribers will be better poised to make conscious, long lasting changes to their energy usage and potentially save money.
VP is very pleased to say that we have found a commercial partner to purchase, install and operate the 500kWh battery. The new commercial partner will also support Village Power to implement the LRE program, through access to data from the battery and provision of revenue.
We will provide further details and the name of the retailer at the coming members’ meeting on Tuesday 3rd June.