ARENA Community Batteries Funding Round 1
Next Green Group is proud to be supported by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) as part of the Community Batteries Round 1 under ARENA’s Advancing Renewables Program.
In June 2024, Next Green Group was selected to receive funding from the first round of the ARENA Community Batteries Funding program. In a highly competitive process that saw over 140 applicants, Next Green Group was one of only 11 private companies chosen for this transformative program.
The funding will empower Next Green Group to deliver 16 large-scale battery projects, representing a total investment of approximately $13 million. These projects will collectively add 12.8 MWh of battery storage and 4.3 MW of new solar PV to support Australia’s energy and grid security while delivering cleaner and more cost-effective energy for our communities. The project is being delivered in partnership with Microgrid Power, with construction underway and expected completion by 2027.
Our Project and Vision
As one of Australia’s leading energy solutions providers, Next Green Group has identified that the greatest barrier to large-scale battery deployment is the upfront cost. This challenge is notable in the multi-tenanted market, where both landlords and tenants have struggled to see a direct return on investments in Distributed Energy Resources (DER)
This project is a direct response to that gap. We are deploying batteries in embedded networks at new and existing shopping centres, as well as a few commercial and industrial (C&I) sites, to demonstrate a replicable business and implementation model that brings real long-term value to various stakeholders. The goal is to make on-site solar and storage economically feasible for this underserved market, ensuring that community hubs like shopping centres can continue to function efficiently and provide valued facilities to the local community.
With some project sites located in grid-constrained areas, the project is also designed to support the network through peak demand reduction, which will improve electricity reliability and reduce costs for the embedded network operator and its tenants
The benefits extend beyond the project sites. As the project sites’ embedded networks are servicing both residential and commercial energy consumers, this project will allow for demand management activities that reduce peak demand consumption and related network charges for embedded network customers. The wider community also benefits indirectly, as the batteries provide network services that help reduce network-related electricity costs for all connected customers in the long term.
Our Commitment to Knowledge Sharing
NGG is committed to sharing the knowledge gained from this project with the broader industry and community. We will be engaging with a range of stakeholders, including government, regulatory bodies, and industry groups, to disseminate our findings. The key knowledge-sharing activities will focus on:
- Improving community awareness and support of community batteries.
- Accelerating the pathway to commercialisation by maximising the value of BESS.
- Increasing technical awareness and best practice in the design and installation of BESS.
- Demonstrating the role of BESS in moderating peak demand, load levelling, and providing network support.
- Sharing lessons learned on overcoming commercial, technical, and regulatory barriers.
