Joint media release: Albanese Government delivers first Community Battery and cleaner, cheaper energy for households

The Hon Chris Bowen MP, Minister for Climate Change and Energy

Sally Sitou MP, Member for Reid

The future of cleaner, cheaper energy for neighbourhoods across the country arrives today with the commissioning of the Albanese Government’s first Community Battery from the Community Batteries for Household Solar program.

We are delivering on our election commitment for 400 community batteries and switching the first on in Cabarita in Sydney - delivering storage of cleaner, cheaper renewable energy for local households.

In April 2022 the Labor Opposition made an election commitment to establish a community battery in Cabarita, and in less than 17 months, it’s now been delivered, providing cleaner, cheaper energy in the electorate of Reid.

One in three Australian households have already joined the rooftop solar revolution – to access cheaper and cleaner energy – but with just 1 in 60 households having battery storage, there’s more to be done.

Our Community Batteries for Household Solar program empowers residents to harness affordable solar energy during the day and store it for use in the local grid during peak times and when the sun isn’t shining.

The new battery will store power from 50 households with rooftop solar and share electricity with around 150 households.

The 412-kilowatt hour battery will support energy security and grid reliability, increasing capacity for local rooftop solar and could power around 20 EV chargers at once.

This first community battery is just the beginning, with more batteries being rolled out in communities across Australia.

Community batteries help in reducing household electricity costs, contributing to a greener future, enhancing the resilience of our electricity grid, promoting solar energy storage, and enabling households without solar panels to share in the renewable energy transformation.

Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen said it would help residents save on their energy bills and reduce emissions.

"I’m delighted to launch the Albanese Government’s first Community Battery – which will help households access cleaner, cheaper energy and increase grid resilience.” 

Local MP for Reid Sally Sitou welcomed the announcement, saying “I’m thrilled our Cabarita community battery is up and running. It shows the commitment this government has to greening our grid and sharing the benefits of clean and reliable renewable energy with all households.”