Not-for-profit organisation Yarra Energy Foundation has launched a community battery storage system integrated with two wheelchair-accessible EV charging bays in Clifton Hill, a suburb of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia. The project is the first front-of-meter community battery system in inner Melbourne specifically designed to work alongside public EV charging infrastructure.
This marks the first dedicated front-of-meter community battery storage system designed to integrate with public EV charging infrastructure in inner Melbourne.
The project, installed at Collingwood Leisure Centre on Turnbull Street, was funded through a AU$750,000 (US$535,000) grant from the Victoria government’s Neighbourhood Battery Initiative.
The installation aims to trial how battery storage and EVs can work together to reduce grid demand by incentivising charging during peak solar generation hours, typically between 10:00 and 16:00, when emissions and energy prices are traditionally at their lowest.
The community battery will charge during daytime periods when residential areas generate surplus solar energy, then discharge during the evening peak demand from 5pm to 9pm, offsetting predominantly fossil-fuel-generated electricity.
The project includes a dual 60kW DC charger serving two dedicated bays, designed in consultation with the City of Yarra’s Disability Advisory Committee and a community reference group of local residents.
According to YEF, the chargers feature lower-than-average heights and wider parking spaces to improve accessibility for wheelchair users, with signage designed to align with local preferences.
The 60kW medium-fast charger can add approximately 150km of range per hour of charging, substantially faster than standard household AC chargers, which typically require four to 12 hours for a full charge. The facility is designed for “topping up” rather than full charging cycles.
Addressing grid congestion and accessibility gaps
According to YEF, the initiative aims to tackle rising grid congestion caused by increasing rooftop solar adoption, which often leads to excess daytime electricity exports that exceed network capacity. By storing surplus solar energy during the day and supplying it back during evening peak demand hours, community batteries can help reduce renewable energy curtailment while supporting a more stable and efficient electricity grid.
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