Smiths Beach street battery bolsters the grid

Smiths Beach is one of 10 locations across the AusNet electricity network where new street batteries are now operating.

Delivered through the Victorian Government's 100 Neighbourhood Battery Program, Smiths Beach was selected due to its high levels of rooftop solar generation.

AusNet General Manager Strategy and Regulation, Charlotte Eddy, said the batteries capture excess solar energy generated during the day and feed it back into the network when it's needed most.

"These street batteries are the size of a bar fridge and have been installed on power poles in areas where homes export large amounts of rooftop solar energy to the electricity network."

"The batteries act like miniature energy banks, storing solar energy during the day and making it available later, helping manage peak electricity use in the local area and creating capacity for more rooftop solar and household electrification," said Ms Eddy.

In Smiths Beach there are 29 nearby homes with rooftop solar near the street battery. Excess solar exported to the grid from these homes is captured and stored in the street battery during the day.

The battery then releases that energy in the evening to the surrounding 207 houses in the area.

"These batteries can power up to 50 homes for two hours after sunset when the grid is operating normally. It also helps maintain consistent voltage levels for more than 100 surrounding homes, supporting greater solar uptake, household electrification and home electric vehicle charging," said Ms Eddy.

She said projects such as this one are helping AusNet plan how to build a smarter, more flexible electricity network for Victoria's energy transition.

"These batteries allow us to reassess export-constrained areas and increase export limits where possible, helping customers maximise the value of their rooftop solar systems.

"As more customers install solar, technologies like these will play an increasingly important role in strengthening the network," said Ms Eddy.

Street batteries have also been installed in Coldstream, Diamond Creek, Ferntree Gully, Heathmont, Knoxfield, Lysterfield, Traralgon, Wantirna and Wantirna South.

AusNet said the program is serving 1777 households across the ten Victorian locations. Around 22 per cent of homes in these areas have rooftop solar.