Jemena completes $2 million rollout of four government funded community batteries

State Grid Corporation of China and Singapore Power jointly- owned energy company Jemena has completed a $2 million (USD 1.4 million) rollout of four community batteries now operating in Melbourne, Victoria’s northwest.

The last and latest being in Alphington, located 8.4 kilometres northeast of the CBD, where a community battery is installed at Pitcher Park and joins similar installations in Bellfield, Coburg and Flemington, which were completed in 2025.

Jemena‘s retail partner Origin Energy manages each battery through its virtual power plant (VPP), allowing homes and businesses on the same low-voltage network as the community batteries automatically able to access the energy they store through their existing electricity supply without having to change retailers.

Supported by the federal government’s $200 million (USD 140 million) Community Batteries for Household Solar (CBHS) program, each battery stores approximately the same amount of energy used by 165 homes for two hours at night.

Jemena Customer and Commercial General Manager Sandra Centofanti said installing community batteries in areas with a high uptake of rooftop solar is one of the ways Jemena is preparing the network for the future.

“Over the next ten years the number of our electricity customers with rooftop solar is set to double from 19% to around 40%,” Centofanti said.

Community engagement

Electricity network constraints in each area, safety, environmental factors, and projected growth of solar installations were considered when choosing locations for the batteries, which was done in consultation with local councils.

Local residents and community groups were also engaged as part of the project and had their say on the look and position of the batteries.

“A community reference group was established made up of residents and representatives from community groups and sports clubs located near each battery site. Members had a say on the position of the batteries and helped select the artwork,” Centofanti said.

“We also engaged local households and businesses through letterbox drops, surveys, and online information sessions.”

CBHS

Jemena was supported with four $500,000 grants to install the Alphington, Bellfield, Coburn and Flemington community batteries, through the CBHS program’s funding round 1.

The grants are funded through the Department of Industry, Science and Resources Business Grants Hub, which is administering $29 million of grants to install 58 batteries.

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is administering the remaining $171 million in two rounds. Round 1 approved $124.7 million to support 318 batteries across Australia, and Round 2 has $46.3 million available.

The Alphington community battery features artwork by Simone Thomson.