Community Batteries for the Noosa Region
2025 Update
The Federal Government’s Community Batteries for Household Solar program will deploy 400 community-scale batteries across Australia. Round 1 of this program provided grant funding for 50 nominated locations across Australia.
In February 2023, Council secured a $500,000 federal government Batteries for Household Solar grant, in partnership with Yarra Energy Foundation (YEF) and the Noosa not-for-profit community organisation Zero Emissions Noosa Inc (ZEN Inc). YEF has already delivered a number of community batteries in Victoria. As a result, Noosaville was one of the 50 nominated locations.
In 2023, two sites were being considered in Bushlands Estate due to the number of solar panels in the neighbourhood that could take advantage of “banking” the power for later use in peak periods. These were Bushlands North Park (Corner of Colley Lane and Shire Drive) and McGregor Park (Corner of Shire Drive & Lindfield Cct).
After an assessment of both sites by Energex and QFES, indicated that, due to vegetation cover and connection requirements, the most suitable site is McGregor Park.
Council has been working with YEF, ZEN Inc, Energex and QFES to negotiate terms and finalise operational requirements for the battery.
ZEN Inc. will be engaging with community again between May and August 2025 to update them about the project and provide then with further information.
Background
ZEN completes Community Batteries Roadmap Report
Zero Emissions Noosa Inc. was awarded a grant from the Queensland Department for Environment and Science (DES) to develop a “Business Plan for a Network of Community Batteries in the Noosa LGA” in 2022.
This roadmap was aimed at de-mystifying and de-risking, as well as demonstrating the Community Battery concept in an LGA in Queensland. The work, knowledge, expertise and the consortium we were able to assemble due to this DES grant, enabled Noosa Council to be confident to bid for and be awarded the DCCEEW grant for the Noosaville Community Battery in 2023, with Zero Emissions Noosa, Inc (ZEN) and Yarra Energy Foundation (YEF) as partners. This report, a “how to” for community batteries, encapsulates all our learnings having worked with leaders in this emerging field – YEF, ANU, Energex / Energy Queensland, Pixii, Acacia Energy. We are the only community group to partner with a local Council Queensland to embark on this journey.
Implementation of Community Batteries is multidisciplinary covering a wide range of disciplines. The Noosaville Community Battery will show how a local Council can own and operate a community battery, with help.
This Business Plan should empower other community groups, Councils and other interested parties and give them enough initial knowledge to know where to start.
You can read the full report - Business Plan for a Network of Community Batteries in the Noosa LGA here….
Noosa Council, ZEN & Yarra Energy Foundation successful with $500,000 community battery grant
In 2023, Noosa became a step closer to owning one of Queensland’s first community batteries with Council on Monday endorsing a plan to begin contract negotiations with not-for-profit Yarra Energy Foundation (YEF).
The proposed community battery will store excess solar power that properties with solar panels feed into the grid during the day. The battery will then discharge the stored renewable energy back onto the grid to meet demand for electricity at night.
Council secured a $500,000 federal government Batteries for Household Solar grant in February 2023, in partnership with YEF and not-for-profit Zero Emissions Noosa Inc (ZEN Inc).
“This is an exciting pilot for Council and Zero Emissions Noosa Inc, which has done a lot of the work in the background to make this initiative happen,” Mayor Clare Stewart said.
Zero Emissions Noosa with Clare Stewart, former Noosa Mayor, 2023 Noosa Councillors & former Carbon Reduction Officer Annie Nolan
COMMUNITY BATTERY COMMUNITY CONSULTATION AND ENGAGEMENT IN 2023 & 2024
In February, March and again in November 2023, ZEN Inc. engaged with the community of Bushlands Estate to provide information about the community battery project, to outline the benefits and gather feedback and answer questions about how it would work. Council also sent an update letter to residents on 14 February 2024 about the project.
One of the community consultation sessions in Noosaville for community batteries in Feb., 2023 was in Kitty Noble Park.
One of the community consultation sessions for community batteries at McGregor Park, Noosaville, Feb., 2023
Community Consultation at Bushlands North, Nov., 2023
Information sessions were also held with the broader Noosa Shire community.
Community Consultation at Noosaville in Feb., 2023
Community Consultation at Cooroy in Feb., 2023
Community Consultation at The J in March, 2023
Community Consultation on May, 2023
Successful Community Battery Information Sessions HELD
More than 40 people attended the Cooroy session, and over 60 were present at The J, Noosa Junction making our community battery information sessions a big success. The events provided an opportunity for attendees to learn about community batteries, their benefits, and ways to bring them to their neighborhoods. Noosa Mayor Clare Stewart opened the Cooroy session and State Member for Noosa, Sandy Bolton joined former Mayor Clare to open the session at The J, Noosa Junction.
The attendees were updated on the progress towards a greener future in Noosa, including our confidence that a community battery will be coming to Noosaville this year. Participants also learned about the next round of Australian Government funding for additional community batteries in the Noosa Shire and our roadmap project aimed at preparing the groundwork for the installation of 100+ community batteries in the area.
An optional session in the last hour of the event focused on teaching participants how to bring a community battery to their neighbourhood, covering topics such as selecting the perfect location and engaging the local community. This session aimed to inspire community leaders to drive the green energy revolution in their areas.
Zero Emissions Noosa Inc. (ZEN) is proud to lead the community battery initiative in the Noosa Shire. As we keep working towards a sustainable and green future, we encourage everyone to join us on this journey. By investing in community batteries, we can all contribute to reducing our carbon footprint and building a more resilient community. Let's continue to power up the future of Noosa together!
State Member for Noosa, Sandy Bolton & former Noosa Mayor, Clare Stewart with the ZEN team
Zero Emissions Noosa Inc. (ZEN) is proud to lead the community battery initiative in the Noosa Shire. As we keep working towards a sustainable and green future, we encourage everyone to join us on this journey. By investing in community batteries, we can all contribute to reducing our carbon footprint and building a more resilient community. Let's continue to power up the future of Noosa together!
Check out our media coverage here.
A Community Battery is coming to Noosaville
Zero Emissions Noosa meeting with Chris Bowen MP, Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy
In 2022, the Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen MP announced that Noosaville would be the site for one of the community batteries to be funded by the Federal government.
At ZEN, we're committed to achieving zero net community emissions. As part of our efforts towards this goal, we've been researching community batteries since late 2020, where we found there were businesses in the Noosaville Industrial Estate with large solar systems that could not export their excess solar to the grid. So the solar power they were generating, but not using on site, after hours and at weekends, was being wasted. With funding from Noosa Council, we commissioned a report by experts to guide us in our community battery work and formed a Working Group with strong credentials in mid-2021.
The work done by this group and the Queensland Department for Environment and Science (DES) to develop a “Business Plan for a Network of Community Batteries in the Noosa LGA” in 2022 provided the funding and the evidence base that ZEN Inc. needed to join with the national leader in the field of community batteries, Yarra Energy Foundation (YEF) and later Noosa Council, in a consortium to undertake the work to be “shovel ready” to apply for Round 1 of the Federal Government’s Community Batteries for Household Solar program. This grant application was successful and has provided the funding the Noosaville Community Battery.
ZEN Inc. Community Battery Team members, Geoff & Viven & YEF Staff Chris & Tim, with Anne Nolan, former Council Carbon Reduction Project Officer at a Community forum in Noosaville, May, 2023
Zero Emissions Noosa meeting with Anne Nolan, Former Carbon Reduction Project Officer at Noosa Council
Zero Emissions Noosa meeting with Sandy Bolton MP re the ZEN Community Batteries Initiative
ZEN Inc. Chair, Anne Kennedy meeting with YEF staff Tim, Lachlan, Dean, & Chris in 2022
Why Community batteries?
Community batteries can help power up your community’s future with sustainable energy. By storing excess solar energy, these batteries can reduce carbon emissions and increase the hosting capacity of the network, allowing for more rooftop solar. With community batteries, we can put downward pressure on energy bills while also building community action in response to climate change.
Community batteries can improve resilience and stabilise the network.
Noosa residents and businesses already love their solar, with over 83MW in 2023 when ZEN Inc, YEF and Noosa Council were successful in getting a community battery funded for Noosaville. But storage is an important part of moving the community forward on its renewable energy journey. There’s lots of excess solar generation during the day that can be stored and released at night.
Storage comes in different shapes and sizes available, from large pumped hydro systems to residential batteries installed in homes and electric vehicles which are batteries on wheels. Community Batteries are a local and shared storage solution that benefits everyone in a neighbourhood.
We believe in the power of Community Batteries - they're a local and shared storage solution that benefits everyone in a neighbourhood.
Community batteries can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and put downward pressure on energy costs, while also enhancing energy security and reliability. Let's work together to build a sustainable, resilient, and affordable energy future for us all.
What is a community battery?
— Dr Marnie Shaw, ANU Battery Storage & Grid Integration Program
Rapid uptake in solar energy is causing ‘congestion’ in the electricity network, when there is more renewable energy than the grid can handle. Unfortunately, if renewable energy can’t be used, exported to the grid, or stored, it is wasted.
Community batteries address this problem by absorbing and storing excess energy from rooftop solar and releasing it during peak times when it is needed most. They essentially act as a ‘solar sponge’ – storing excess clean, cheap, and local solar energy (generated by rooftop solar arrays within the community) for use later in the day when demand is higher, and the sun is no longer shining.
Therefore, community batteries support renewable generation by providing energy storage for the excess solar that was generated during the day and making it available in the evening.
This means that households in the vicinity of a community battery can tap into locally generated solar electricity in the evening and at night, reducing their reliance on carbon-polluting coal or gas-fired electricity. By promoting the use of renewable energy sources, community batteries are fantastic for the environment and help reduce carbon emissions.
What do they look like?
Noosaville's community battery has the potential to double as an artwork, as shown in the images below.
This is the community battery at Flinders in Victoria. This is what the Noosaville community battery will look like.
Some other communities have chosen to decorate their community batteries with artwork as shown below.
Yarra Energy Foundation Community Battery in North Fitzroy, Victoria (Credit: Yarra Energy Foundation. Artist: Hayden Dewar)
YEF North Fitzroy Community Battery - rear view - “Set the controls to harness the sun”
Powercor’s neighbourhood battery in Tarneit, Victoria
Video explainers
To find out more and view a list of FAQ's, go to https://www.noosa.qld.gov.au/Environment-and-Waste/Climate-Change/Community-battery-project
The ZEN Noosa Community Battery initiative is a wonderful way for the Noosa and Hinterland communities to make a real difference by leading the way for communities to have real agency in the storage part of the energy transition, under the mantra of “generate locally, store locally and the use locally”.
Stay Updated
To stay informed visit Noosa Council's Community Battery Project
You can find out more about community batteries or contact us on Council’s webpage and see the FAQ section below.
Resources
Read our Noosa Community Batteries Newsletters and News Items.
Read our Project Overview.
Check out some of our Noosa Community Batteries posters
The Yarra Energy Foundation are leaders in the field of Community Batteries and have a really informative website.
Read two of the documents we wrote for the Noosaville grant submission - Preliminary Community Engagement for Noosaville Report, and Noosaville Site Selection Report.
The Neighbourhood Battery Knowledge Hub is an initiative of the ANU Battery Storage & Grid Integration Program together with the Victoria Government Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action.
We gratefully acknowledge the pioneering work of Yarra Energy Foundation with the emerging electricity asset class of community batteries. Much of these FAQs have drawn upon their published work, and fabulous feedback from folks that attended our workshop on 4 February 2023.
Frequently asked questions
What is a community battery?
A community battery is a locally shared battery within a community that enables storage of excess rooftop solar generated electricity, which can be used at a later time.
They essentially act as a ‘solar sponge’ – storing excess clean, cheap, and local solar energy (generated by rooftop solar arrays within the community) for use later in the day when demand is higher, and the sun is no longer shining.
Community batteries support renewable generation by providing energy storage for the excess solar that was generated during the day and making it available in the evening.
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Community batteries, often called neighbourhood batteries, are located in the low voltage network – at the local street level. They can be located on the ground or on poles. There are several factors that need to be considered when locating the community battery in Noosaville. These factors include:
· Available accessible land to locate the battery within Noosaville
· Proximity to the existing infrastructure in the low-voltage network
· Solar density within the local transformer
· Number of customers connected to the low voltage network
· Limitations on the network due to high solar export
· Environmental, visual, safety considerations
· Acceptance by the local community
Batteries are an important part in the transition to renewable energy. The Australian National University has provided an explanation of how community batteries can benefit our local communities.
For in-depth information about neighbourhood batteries, visit the Yarra Energy Foundation.
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You don't have to connect to the battery, in fact, you don't need to do anything at all. Residents and businesses on the same low-voltage network as the community battery will automatically access the energy it stores through their existing electricity supply. There is no sign-up process required.
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There will be no impact to your electricity supply or your electricity bill.
If you have rooftop solar there will be no changes to how you currently use or export solar power back into the electricity grid.
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Noosa Council will be the owner of the community battery. The community battery will be operated by a 3rd party specialist, for Noosa Council and will buy and sell electricity in the National Electricity Market (NEM).
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There are a number of different ownership models for a community battery such as Distributed Network Service Providers (DNSPs) e.g. Energex; electricity retailers or private investors. A Noosa Council owned model aims to provide the most equitable transition to renewable energy and provides decarbonisation benefits for the Shire. Possible benefits from participating in the National Energy Markets will be used for further decarbonisation projects across the shire in consultation with the community.
What problems do community batteries solve?
Rapid uptake in solar is causing ‘congestion’ in the electricity network, that is, more renewable energy than the grid can handle. Unfortunately, if renewable energy can’t be used, exported to the grid, or stored, it is wasted.
Community batteries address this problem by absorbing and storing excess energy from rooftop solar and releasing it during peak times when it is needed most.
Neighbourhood-scale batteries are a more affordable and cost-effective solution for renewable energy storage than individual household batteries, which are still prohibitively expensive for most people.
With community batteries, we can make our energy system more resilient, climate friendly, equitable, and affordable.
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Battery storage supports the transition to a renewable energy system by providing system services currently provided by fossil fuel generators. They can support adoption of greater amounts of rooftop solar and 'firm' the supply of variable renewable energy. In time, batteries will also reduce emissions by reducing the reliance on non-renewable energy sources.
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No, all residents in the catchment area will automatically participate in the benefits of a community battery, at no additional cost to you. All arrangements with your retailer will remain the same. The power exported to the grid from local rooftops will charge the battery during the day when the sun is shining. Feed-in tariffs provided by your electricity retailer will remain exactly the same. The excess power from rooftop solar will be stored in the community battery. Then at night when you are using electricity which is usually drawn from a coal-fired power station, the community battery will increase the amount of renewable energy in your electricity consumption.
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There are many reasons why some households can’t install solar on their roof. However, the community battery helps all households to increase the amount of renewable energy that your family uses during the evening, regardless whether they have solar or not. Over the longer term, community batteries will also benefit everybody by deferring or avoiding costly grid upgrades.
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No, the community battery will not directly change your electricity bill.
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No. The battery is not designed for emergency back-up electricity supply.
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Community batteries help stabilise peaks and troughs in local renewable energy capacity. They store solar when it’s abundant and release it when the sun goes down and more households are using electricity. This can help solve local issues, such as power quality issues caused by voltage rise and drop; network constraints that can limit households from installing solar; and reducing the need for costly grid investments from network companies, putting downward pressure on energy prices.
Furthermore, across the grid, batteries are essential for shifting to a renewable energy system, as they provide many of the services that coal and gas generators have offered in the past.In short community batteries:
Improve stability of the grid by absorbing excess solar and reducing load in times of high demand. -
Each battery consists of storage units and a control unit. Typically, each of these units is similar in size to a large refrigerator (700mm W x 800mm D x 2100mm H) and the number of units depends on the chosen storage capacity. The community battery in Noosaville will follow the Noosa Design Principles and could be aesthetically pleasing through landscaping. Some community batteries have embraced community art.
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The battery would make noise when charging and discharging. Typically, this occurs during the day when the sun is shining and, in the evening, especially during periods of peak demand, but not at night. Battery systems will typically include a standard air conditioning unit, which will make noise. Noise can also be managed with acoustic treatment within or outside of the battery unit.
Generally speaking, community battery noise levels can range from about 50-70 decibels at 1 metre from the unit, depending on the model. 50 dB can be equated to the sound of a conversation at home, and 70 dB can be equated to a vacuum cleaner. The Pixii battery system, which will be used for this project, was selected because it was the quietest system of the options assessed at the time.
From the experience of Yarra Energy Foundation’s community battery installed in Fitzroy North on a neighbourhood nature strip, noise has not been an issue for residents even in a built-up residential area.
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Yes, the batteries that we are proposing to install are safe. Our selection of suppliers and our testing of their technology follow a rigorous process to ensure that they operate safely and do not pose a fire threat and operate within Australian standards for Electro-Magnetic Fields (EMF).
What is the location of the battery?
The battery will be located in McGregor Park (Corner of Shire Drive & Lindfield Cct).
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A number of factors were considered when choosing the location at McGregor Park, Shire Drive, Noosaville, including the number of solar installations in the area, electricity network constraints in the area, safety, environmental factors, and projected growth of solar installations.
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The community battery will be installed later in 2025.
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120kW / 360kWh
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Community Advisory Group will advise on how any possible benefits generated from the battery could be used for the Noosa Shire community.
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No
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Electric and magnetic fields (EMFs) are everywhere in the environment and are produced by anything with an electric current flowing through it. Electrical infrastructure like electrical lines and transformers also produces electric and magnetic fields. There is no scientific evidence finding that electric or magnetic fields produced within existing international standards cause ill health effects. All Pixii systems comply with international standards made by the key industry body, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
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The project team’s selection of suppliers and testing of their technology has followed a rigorous process to ensure that this battery system operates safely. The key risk around fire relates to improper use and damage. This is why we’re working closely with Pixii (the supplier), and Acacia (the project manager) to ensure the safe installation of the battery and conditions for its safe use. The battery will adhere to international and local standards as well as best practice guidelines. These include:
AS5139: Electrical installations – Safety of battery systems for use with power conversion equipment.
UL9540A Test Method which verifies fire performance.
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There will be a strong focus on life-cycle sustainability in the selection of the Noosaville community battery. As an example, the battery selected for the Fitzroy North community battery, the Pixii PowerShaper, is by far the most sustainable battery model from a lifecycle analysis point of view out of more than a dozen options evaluated through an exhaustive assessment and evaluation process. The battery module manufacturers (Polarium) are the first in the world to announce manufacturing of battery modules made with 100% renewable energy and up to 95% of the physical materials used in the PowerShaper are recyclable.
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The battery is expected to operate for at least 10 years.
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An important element in choice of battery technology will be whether battery components can be recycled at end of life. A key factor in the battery manufacturer chosen by YEF was that up to 95% of all materials in battery cells can be recycled into producing new cells.
