Pictured L-R: Mark Aarons, Ian Coffey, Ralph Kemyon, Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy Josh Sinclair, Bob Chynoweth and Kerry MacDonald.
It's been three years in the making and on Tuesday 29 October, tireless hard work paid off for the Flinders Zero Carbon Community (FZCC).
Situated in front of the Flinders Civic Hall, we unveiled the official Flinders Community Battery yesterday, 29 October, with our CEO, John Baker and Josh Wilson MP, Assistant Minister Climate Change and Energy, Australian Government.
This project was funded by the Australian Government through the Community Batteries for Household Solar Initiative.
Support was also delivered by Yarra Energy Foundation (YEF), United Energy, Pixii, Acacia Energy, DCCEEW. Thank you to everyone involved in the first Mornington Peninsula community battery, designed with and for the Flinders community.
What will the battery do?
This community battery allows us all to share benefits across all properties, storing and redistributing excess solar energy, as well as lower emissions from electricity use. This battery is a step towards our Climate Emergency Plan goals of a 40 per cent emissions reduction by 2030 and net zero by 2040.
The battery acts like a "solar sponge", absorbing excess solar energy reducing solar waste and emissions from electricity. Together with a Bulk Buy Scheme, the community battery initiative has resulted in an increased solar uptake in an area with a high percentage of home vacancy.
Equity is at the heart of this project! We will direct profits from the battery to a Community Benefit Fund, to assist vulnerable/low-income households on the Peninsula transition to renewables to reduce energy costs.
Together with our delivery partners YEF and FZCC and the Community Reference Group appointed to represent Flinders residents, have played a unique role in realising, driving delivery and securing this excellent location.
This battery has also been unveiled with a specially designed mural, painted by local Bunurong Artist, Glenn Shaw.
YEF have produced handy FAQs, to clear up any questions you may have. Visit their website to find out more: yef.org.au/community-batteries/community-battery-faqs
Pictured: The battery with a specially designed mural, painted by local Bunurong Artist, Glenn Shaw.
