The Government of South Australia is delivering community batteries for South Australia through the emPowering SA program.
The first two community batteries under the program are emPowering Magill and emPowering Edwardstown.
These batteries will deliver renewable energy and lower residential electricity rates to at least 600 Housing SA tenants in Magill, Edwardstown and surrounds.
Over their expected 15 year life, emPowering Magill and emPowering Edwardstown will together deliver around $5 million of benefits to Housing SA tenants across South Australia.
Eligible Housing SA tenants will be invited to join emPowering SA later this year.
emPowering SA enables the benefits of these community batteries to be realised by local residents who are currently locked out from accessing renewable energy technologies, and for whom lower energy bills means the most.
Why it is important
South Australians who rent or are on low or fixed incomes have little opportunity to control their electricity bills by investing in renewable energy. Solar panels and home batteries can be costly to install, and agreements with landlords can be difficult to arrange.
As a result these households have fewer opportunities to reduce their electrical expenses. They are more likely to turn off air conditioning or heating, or forgo essential items like food.
emPowering SA is demonstrating how a community battery can reduce these risks, provide better options, and deliver a more equitable energy transition.
A typical household benefiting from emPowering SA is expected to save around $562 off their annual electricity bill.
Who is involved
emPowering SA is being delivered by the Government of South Australia, in partnership with Tesla, the City of Campbelltown and the City of Marion.
emPowering Magill and emPowering Edwardstown received grant funding from the Australian Government as part of the Community Batteries for Household Solar Program.
The details
emPowering Magill and emPowering Edwardstown are two 150 kilowatt / 405 kilowatt-hour community batteries being delivered in 2024.
The batteries store excess energy from the grid when renewable energy is abundant.
They then make that energy available at night, during periods of high demand, or when the grid needs support.
Every tenant benefiting from emPowering SA will be in a home that cannot support its own solar panels or a battery.
This ensures these tenants are not locked out from accessing renewable energy technologies and the benefits it can provide.
Knowledge from emPowering SA will be shared to provide information on the real-world deployment and operation of community batteries for the benefit of future projects by the private sector and community groups.
The emPowering SA community battery fleet is one of many South Australian government initiatives to reduce emissions and meet our climate change targets.
The locations
emPowering Magill
Tuku Wirra on Koongarra Court, Magill
emPowering Edwardstown
Towers Terrace, Edwardstown
The benefits
emPowering SA enables the benefits of community batteries to be realised by South Australians who are currently locked out from accessing renewable energy technologies, and for whom lower energy bills means the most.
Over its expected 15 year life, emPowering SA will deliver up to $5 million of benefits to Housing SA tenants, and even greater value to our electricity grid to benefit all South Australians.
emPowering SA will also help South Australia reduce our emissions and meet our climate change targets.
Frequently asked questions
Find out more about the community batteries:
