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North Epping Community Battery

In April last year, we asked for your feedback on a proposed site for a new community battery in North Epping. Overall, the community was very supportive of the proposal.

Since then, we have received funding from the Federal Government to install the community battery in North Epping. We then started the process of detailed planning for delivering the battery.

During our detailed planning, we identified a number of problems with the proposed location. We found that this original location at the intersection would require 25 metres of excavation and significant upgrades to the existing network requiring multiple outages to connect the battery. A new location along Beck Street approximately 40 metres from the original position met our conditions for a community battery. We asked the community for feedback on this location and it was generally supported.

Electric vehicle charger

In addition to the North Epping community battery, Ausgrid is offering the North Epping community an Electric Vehicle (EV) charging station to further enable the local community’s transition to renewable energy and net zero emissions.

We asked the community for their feedback on a proposed electric vehicle charger to be installed adjacent to the battery on Beck Street. We heard mixed views on the proposed electric vehicle charger at Beck Street and understand that we have more work to do.

We are now investigating alternative locations.

Community Consultation

Ausgrid considered several factors in determining an appropriate battery site such as safety, accessibility, traffic conditions and motorist visibility, environmental considerations, and the network constraints in the area.

 

Ausgrid identified a potential site in North Epping and consulted the community on the location at North Epping Oval. Beck Street opposite Cotton Street, North Epping, NSW 2121

Following community feedback, we will progress with the location at North Epping Oval.

Ausgrid has identified a new position for the community battery at North Epping Oval. We are proposing to reposition the community battery as shown in the image below. This will allow the battery to be set away from the intersection and minimise construction impacts on the local community.

 

We are proposing a visual design on the battery to represent the local community.

 

We are exploring the idea of wrapping the battery in a First Nations artwork that will reflect the rich heritage of the area. 

We have heard from our communities that they want to understand how the battery works throughout the day.

 

We will create an online information hub where community members can see local solar stored and emissions data. Customers can visit the website or scan the QR code on the battery to learn more.

Ausgrid is exploring new ways to share the value from community batteries with local communities. Community batteries provide additional network capacity to support more connections, such as rooftop solar and electric vehicle charging stations.

Ausgrid is proposing to install a pole-mounted 22kW public electric vehicle charging station co-located with the North Epping community battery.

Key points about the EV Charging Station:

  • The EV charging station will be a power pole-mounted 22kW charger with a Type 2 socketed connector.
  • EV owners will be required to bring their own cable to charge.
  • To charge, customers can use a mobile app or QR code.
  • The EV charging station will be accessible to the public 24 hours a day, 7 days per week
  • 1 x kerbside parking space is proposed to be converted to 3P 8:00am-8:00pm ‘EV only – while charging’ for electric vehicles.

Documents

FAQS

  • Community batteries are key to supporting the energy system as we rely on more variable renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. Community batteries are connected to the local distribution network which services nearby residents and small businesses. The battery stores and distributes electricity from the local grid to share with the local community and wider energy system. 
  • Community batteries are uniquely placed to increase the communities use of local solar energy, allow more customers to install solar and charge their electric vehicles, and deliver services to the wider energy market that puts downward pressure on wholesale costs. 
  • Ausgrid will provide an information hub to show how the battery contributes to the community and the wider system, and continue to explore with communities how best to share value. 
  • Community batteries are a shared asset that offers the local community a stronger network and better solar hosting capacity. 
  • A stronger grid will reduce the need to limit (curtail) solar exports and help customers maximise their solar investment. 
  • Helps share solar with the local area, including non-solar households, and the wider energy system. 
  • Creates a positive impact on the wholesale energy market that can eventually flow through to retail customer offers. 
  • Helps to regulate voltage on the network and improves network quality in the local area. 
  • Supports more electric devices, such as electric vehicle chargers, to be connected.  
  • Offers a flexible alternative to traditional poles and wires investment and helps lower network costs.  
  • Access to an online information hub where the community can see how much energy was stored and used daily.

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