The Andrews Labor Government is helping more Victorians take control of their energy bills by increasing renewable energy storage capacity in the suburbs.

Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio unveiled the Tarneit neighbourhood battery today, which received $800,000 as part of the $10.9 million Neighbourhood Battery Initiative.

The 120kW/360kWh battery will soak up excess rooftop solar energy during the day and deliver it back to residents when it is needed.

It will help alleviate solar power export constraints and be able to supply about 170 nearby homes for up to three hours during peak electricity demand periods.

The Labor Government is opening a third round of the Neighbourhood Battery Initiative today, with up to $2.3 million in grants available for the development of business cases and implementation of neighbourhood batteries.

Tarneit, along with neighbouring suburbs Hoppers Crossing and Truganina, has the highest penetration of rooftop solar across Victoria, with almost 14,000 solar households making up about 42 per cent of all customers.

The Tarneit neighbourhood battery features artwork from Jess Kease from 23rd Key, which represents the theme of connecting to the natural environment.

The Government launched the first inner-city neighbourhood battery in Australia in Fitzroy North last year with two more neighbourhood batteries on the way, including a 120kW/390kWh battery and off-street EV charge-point installed outside a community centre in Richmond and a 150kW/300kWh system at Library at the Dock.

The Government is also investing a further $42 million to install 100 more neighbourhood batteries across Victoria, tripling the number of homes with access to renewable energy storage.

Victoria’s neighbourhood batteries are a vital step towards meeting our nation-leading renewable energy storage targets of 2.6 gigawatts (GW) by 2030 and 6.3 GW by 2035 – enough renewable energy to power around half of Victoria’s current homes at their peak energy use and reduce emissions by 75 to 80 per cent by 2035.

For more information, visit: energy.vic.gov.au/grants/neighbourhood-battery-initiative.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio

“Neighbourhood batteries are helping Victorians be part of the renewable energy revolution by storing power from rooftop solar during the day and deploying in the evening.”

“Tarneit has some of the highest levels of rooftop solar in Australia and a new neighbourhood battery will give them access to a secure cheap renewable energy supply right at the end of the street.”

Quote attributable to Member for Tarneit Dylan Wight

“There are many new families moving to Tarneit and having access to a neighbourhood battery will help to lower emissions and reduce power bills.”