Joint media release: Investing in cleaner, cheaper energy for Bondi

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

Ms Allegra Spender MP, Member for Wentworth

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More reliable renewable solar energy will be able to be stored for when it’s needed with the launch of the Bondi community battery today. The battery will also offer ‘Energy Storage as a Service’, a service with retailers Origin Energy and EnergyAustralia which could save some eligible customers more than $200 a year.

While one in three Australian households have already embraced rooftop solar and are accessing cleaner and cheaper energy, less than 1 in 40 households have battery storage.

The Community Batteries for Household Solar program is about empowering communities to share in the renewable energy transformation, whether they have rooftop solar or not. The Albanese Government is rolling out more than 400 community batteries across the country.

The 412 kWh battery energy storage system in Bondi has been built by Ausgrid and will support energy security and grid reliability, not only putting downward pressure on electricity bills but also easing pressure on the grid.

The rollout of community batteries is vital in making sure everyone can share the benefits of renewable energy by storing rooftop solar energy during the day and dispatching at night where it’s needed.

The rain doesn’t always fall, but we always have water on tap because we store it for when we need it – batteries like the one in Bondi do the same thing for reliable renewable energy.

Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen said it would play an important role in helping households access cleaner, cheaper energy and increasing grid resilience.

“It’s incredibly exciting to deliver a community battery for Bondi today, our Reliable Renewables plan is bringing cleaner, cheaper reliable renewable energy to communities across the country,” Minister Bowen said.

Member for Wentworth Allegra Spender said the Bondi battery is a huge win for Wentworth.

“The battery will help deliver cleaner and cheaper electricity for our community, reducing both power bills and climate pollution.

Renters and apartment dwellers have been locked-out of lower power bills for too long, but the launch of ‘Energy Storage as Service’ will finally enable them to share in the benefits of Australia’s rooftop solar revolution.

Today’s announcement is the first step on the road to a smarter, cleaner, electricity grid – that puts Australian households at the center.