Project Outcomes
The Maldon Community Battery soaks up excess solar from nearby rooftops and share the benefits of cheap, clean, and local renewable energy with nearby customers. It will service to up to 50 homes with high quality power, regardless of whether they own their own solar system or not.
An improved design
The Maldon Community Battery will be similar to the Tarneit Community Battery (pictured), but with the latest upgrades designed to improve its energy efficiency.
The ground-mounted battery is about the size of a small car and will consist of four cubicles (three for the battery bank and one for the controls) on a concrete base. It measures approximately 3.6 metre long, 1.3 metre deep, and 2.5 metre high, and undergoes rigorous testing to ensure it operates safely and complies with all required Australian standards. A new overhead cable connecting the battery to the nearest substation has also been installed.
The battery is expected to have a lifespan of approximately 10 years. After that, Powercor will either replace, repurpose, or recycle the unit in line with the manufacturer’s end-of-life plan.
Your favourite art - Harmony Journey
This artwork concept was inspired by Maldon township as well as the community connection within. If you look at Maldon through the cultural lens you will see more footprint than how you may look at it today.
The centre of the artwork depicts life within community, people sharing the township and surrounds, and how one flows to the next. The line-work is Maldon people, the community itself, standing together alongside one another. The inner layer of the artwork with blocks reflects structure, understand that this is a shared space and there are many old and existing stories within the landscape, seen through structures build, spaces shared, and stories told about today from many years ago.
A community battery acts like a large battery for your neighbourhood and connects directly to local powerlines.
During sunny days, solar panels on roofs often produce more electricity than homes can use immediately. This excess solar energy gets stored in the community battery instead of being wasted.
When the sun sets and customers need more power, the battery supplies this stored solar energy back to local homes.
People with solar panels and those without can benefit from the clean energy collected throughout the day.
Powercor responded due to Maldon’s high solar penetration and current network constraint which may help defer costly upgrades in the future. This helps ensure the benefits of network-owned community batteries are shared with everyone.
Around 39% of residential customers in both the 3463 postcode and the Mount Alexander Shire have rooftop solar installed, above the network average of 28%.
The 100kW/290kWh Maldon Community Battery is designed to soak up excess rooftop solar generation and supply up to 50 nearby properties during peak periods for up to three hours.
We investigated multiple sites in Maldon and identified Adair Street as the most suitable.
We selected this site based on feedback from neighbouring properties; the visual impact and reliability benefits it would deliver for the local electricity network.
When choosing a site for a battery, we consider:
- Where a battery will provide both community and network benefits
- Places to safely connect to existing power lines
- Safe access for crews to operate and maintain the battery.
- Locations that that won't disrupt neighbours or community areas
Ways to make the battery look visually appealing. This can include landscaping, artwork or screen
The ground-mounted battery is about the size of a small car and will consist of four cubicles (three for the battery bank and one for the controls) on a concrete base. It measures approximately 3.6 metre long, 1.3 metre deep, and 2.5 metre high.
Batteries like this are designed to withstand high temperatures, corrosion, dust, insects and humidity. It has a secure, powder-coated metal exterior and will be finished with a commissioned artwork.
Once operating the battery will not create dust and is almost silent - similar to an air conditioner.
The battery manufacturers build safety into the design of their infrastructure and test batteries to ensure any sound levels emitted meet all relevant guidelines and requirements set by the Victorian Environment Protection Authority (EPA).
During installation, there may be some dust or construction noise however our teams will minimise this as much as possible.
Yes. This battery will be built and operated in line with strict Australian standards, and our networks are monitored by 24/7 control rooms. Community batteries also emit very low electromagnetic fields (EMFs), well within national safety guidelines.
No. This battery will not provide back up during a power outage. If the local network goes down, the battery shuts off too. This is to stop electricity flowing back into a fault and creating a safety risk.
Batteries may help lower overall network costs and improve efficiency. Over time, this benefits all customers.
No. Community batteries connect to the shared local network, not individual homes.
Your solar feed-in tariff is set by your energy retailer, not by us, and isn’t affected by the battery.
Around 10–12 years. They’re monitored and maintained by our crews and replaced or upgraded as needed.
Most components can be recycled or reused, with up to 95% of valuable materials recovered.
Location of Project
The battery will be installed in Adair St, opposite the Maldon Hospital, with the site selected following months of engagement with homes and businesses.
