Local renewable energy powers on

Not-for-profit renewable energy consultants Geni.Energy have won their biggest renewable energy grant to date, bringing a new community battery to Narrabri.

The successful applicants were one of 40 community and industry groups to receive $500,000 in funding from the federal government to install and run a 360 kilowatt hour battery as part of the Household Solar program.

To celebrate their success, Geni.Energy welcomed customers and supporters to share the announcement at their Maitland Street office on May 30, with cake and a toast to the newest energy resource, which will be installed by next July.

The battery will be in the former Town Hall carpark on Barwan and Doyle Streets and will be an addition to the Renewable Energy Precinct in Narrabri’s CBD, along with Electric Vehicle charging stations and a solar car park that will shelter vehicles while generating electricity.

The $200 million Community Batteries for Household Solar program offered by the Department of Energy, Power, and Water will enable Australians to store affordable solar energy for use during peak times and to share excess power with other households in their area.

Sitting at a size of three fridges, a local artist will have the chance to decorate the battery, with all profits generated from usage going back into Geni.Energy’s not-for-profit mission.

Geni.Energy managing director Sally Hunter said, “The Albanese Government’s support for renewable energy in regional areas like Narrabri will help stabilise the electricity grid as we transition away from fossil fuels like coal and gas.

“It may also help bring down electricity costs locally as it acts as a solar sponge and electricity retailers can sell the stored electricity back to the community at night when it’s needed.

“A huge 44 per cent of homes in Narrabri have solar, the equal highest rate of solar of any shire in rural and regional NSW in the Essential Energy network.

“When this battery is built, Narrabri will be a shining example of how a town can harness and store the sun’s energy to support electricity use into the evening, while also powering the grid during the evening.”

“It’s a positive initiative, especially for off-the-grid living, if you get into solar then you don’t have the major concern of blackouts where there’s no generator, or things like your stuff in the fridge going bad and everything is at risk because a tree went down,” said Mrs Hunter.