A new battery, storing locally generated renewable energy, will allow the Powelltown Pavilion to be activated as a community hub in emergency situations, thanks to a partnership between the Powelltown Sporting Club, Council and the State Government.
The new battery technically known as a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), was recently unveiled at a community event, with representatives from the Powelltown Sporting Club, Council, renewable energy installer UB Energy, and the community present.
The project included an additional 35kW of solar panels on the roof of the pavilion and over 200kWh of battery storage sourced from local renewable energy company, PowerPlus.
O'Shannassy Ward Councillor, Jim Child, said the battery - funded through the Victorian Government's 100 Neighbourhood Batteries Program - would help build local resilience in an emergency.
"The Upper Yarra is no stranger to power outages in extreme weather; having battery storage will mean the pavilion can be activated during an emergency, offering the community a safe place to gather with at least 72 hours of back-up power," Cr Child said.
In the event of a power outage, the battery will automatically start within 30 seconds, and the pavilion will be able to operate autonomously from the grid, allowing people to charge phones and use the pavilion facilities.
"When it's not being used in an emergency, the battery will store energy generated from the large roof-mounted solar array that can be used to power the pavilion, helping to greatly reduce electricity costs for the club."
Powelltown Sporting Club President, Kevin Sanders, said " On behalf of the Powelltown Sporting Club and the Community of Powelltown, I would like to thank the State Government for the initial grant from their 100 Neighbourhood Batteries Program, and secondly I would like to thank Yarra Ranges Council for their guidance, project management and co-contributing their own funds to the project and lastly I thank UB Energy for sourcing the equipment and installing.
"This project is a great example of community, Council and the State Government working together to deliver an outstanding outcome for local residents. I'm proud to have been part of it," Cr Child said.
As part of the project, Council provided project management, technical expertise, and delivery support, while a community-led Innovation Working Group helped shape the project and local community residents applied for the grant.
