The Albanese Government is delivering on its election commitment for a community solar battery in Hobartville, with expressions of interest for providers opened earlier this week.

Federal Member for Macquarie, Susan Templeman, said it’s exciting to see the project start to roll out.

“Our community wants to do our part to reduce emissions and stop climate change, and people also want to have the benefits of cheaper power, so I’m thrilled to have one of the first community solar batteries right here in Hobartville,” Ms Templeman said. 

“We know solar energy is some of the cleanest, cheapest energy available. One in three households have solar panels, but most of them don’t have battery storage. And that’s the data that has helped determine Hobartville as a location, with a large number of solar panels, but low uptake of home batteries,” she said.

 “The community battery will mean that homes with solar panels can store their solar energy for future use, and excess energy goes back into the grid to be used by the community.”

 The Community Batteries for Household Solar program will enable the rollout of a pilot of 400 batteries in neighbourhoods across the country, with 58 batteries promised during the election campaign the first to be installed.

 “Hobartville will have one of the first community batteries in the country and the benefits will be felt locally and nationwide,” Ms Templeman said.

 “The battery will help drive down energy prices for local households and also help Australia move towards 82% renewables in the national electricity market by 2030. 

 “I’m proud to be part of a government that is taking real action to expand the renewable energy market.”