18 Community Batteries Coming to Perth and Bunbury

Western Australia had no grid storage batteries three years ago. By next May, 18 new community batteries will help over 5,300 homes share their solar power with neighbors when they need it most.

The batteries work like neighborhood power banks. During sunny days, they soak up excess energy from rooftop solar panels when demand is low. When the sun sets and families turn on lights and appliances, the batteries release that stored energy back into the grid.

Western Power is installing 13 batteries across Perth suburbs including Morley, Cottesloe, and Canning Vale, connecting about 1,700 homes. Five larger batteries in Bunbury will serve roughly 3,600 homes. The federal government is contributing $9.3 million toward the $25 million project.

Energy Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson explained why storage matters, especially on cloudy days like the rainy weekend when the announcement was made. "It's a day like today where rooftop solar isn't going to be firing on all cylinders, and that's why we need this storage capacity in our system," she said.

The batteries tackle a real problem in energy markets. Prices can plummet during sunny midday hours when solar floods the grid, then spike when clouds roll in. Community batteries help smooth out these wild swings while making room for more renewable energy on the network.

The Ripple Effect

Western Australia is now the third largest energy storage market globally, trailing only China and the United States. The state already has more than 45,000 home batteries installed, plus five existing community batteries and several large-scale battery projects in Kwinana and Collie.

Together, these batteries can meet about 50 percent of the state's average power demand. That's enough electricity to power every residential home in Perth through an entire evening.

Federal Climate Change Minister Josh Wilson emphasized the dual benefit. "These 18 community batteries will contribute to cutting network costs while enabling more renewable generation," he said.

The Bunbury batteries will start operating by early summer, with Perth's installations following by May 2027. For a state starting from zero just three years ago, it's proof that clean energy infrastructure can scale up fast when the will exists.