Beechworth | 16 April 2026
Indigo Power is proud to announce the launch of a new community battery at the Cricket Albury Wodonga Indoor Stadium in West Wodonga. The 'Big Community Battery' is Indigo Power's largest solar and battery system to date, sharing power to support its Wodonga customer base.
Supported by the Victorian Government's 100 Neighbourhood Batteries Program, the project builds on a successful partnership between Indigo Power and global outdoor apparel company Patagonia. The project delivers sufficient renewable energy to offset Patagonia's annual consumption and delivers material cost savings for Cricket Albury Wodonga, demonstrating how collaboration between business and community can deliver practical climate solutions while strengthening local outcomes.
The Wodonga community battery includes a 100 kW inverter and 482 kWh of storage capacity. It is co-located with an existing ~98 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) system installed by Indigo Power in 2022, enabling battery charging from onsite renewable energy.
A model for community energy
Delivering projects that directly benefit local communities is central to Indigo Power's mission. This project highlights how innovative energy solutions can reduce emissions, lower costs, and reinvest value back into the region.
Ben McGowan, Indigo Power's Managing Director said this project shows what's possible when communities, businesses and government work together.
"We're not just generating clean energy, we're keeping the value local, lowering costs and building more resilient regional energy systems.
"Adding battery storage takes this Cricket Albury Wodonga and Patagonia collaboration to the next level. Storing renewable energy at the site allows more locally generated renewable energy to be used when and where it's needed most."
The original solar installation was developed in partnership with Patagonia, which sought to offset the annual electricity consumption of its Australian operations. Through Indigo Power's energy-sharing software and a power purchase agreement (PPA), renewable energy generated at the stadium supports Patagonia's stores and offices nationwide.
Since its installation, the solar system has more than enough to cover the electricity consumed across Patagonia's Australian sites during the same timeframe.
Expanding impact with battery storage
The addition of the community battery significantly enhances the project by enabling energy storage, adding site backup power, and increasing the proportion of locally generated renewable energy used on-site or shared with others.
The battery will:
- Supply the stadium with low-cost, locally stored electricity
- Provide backup power capability
- Continue supplying Patagonia under the existing PPA
- Enable energy sharing with local Indigo Power customers
Cricket Albury Wodonga is already benefiting from reduced energy costs, with savings reinvested into community development programs, including pathways for junior male and female cricketers across the region.
Cricket Albury Wodonga Chairman Michael Erdeljac said the project is a fantastic outcome for the organisation and the community. "Reducing our energy costs means we can reinvest more into developing cricket across the region, particularly supporting pathways for junior players both boys and girls," Mr Erdeljac said.
"The addition of the battery takes this to the next level. It gives us greater energy security and ensures we're making the most of the solar energy generated right here on our roof."
Commissioned in December 2025, the Wodonga community battery is now fully operational and actively supporting the local energy network.
Sport, energy and community impact
Nearly 70% of sporting clubs are struggling with rising energy costs , and many cricket clubs across Australia are transitioning to renewable energy to reduce expenses and future-proof their operations. Cricket for Climate is a player-led movement focused on driving practical climate action through cricket and its communities. The organisation collaborates with communities, fans, government, business and other sports to build resilience for community clubs and the game and normalise energy and climate solutions through cricket.
Celebrating the project completion, Joanne Bowen, CEO of Cricket for Climate, said: "We're seeing real momentum as sport steps into the energy conversation. Cricket clubs are trusted and deeply connected to their communities, making them powerful platforms for change. When business, government and communities come together like this, we're not only cutting emissions, we're helping future-proof the game with savings flowing straight back into clubs to support junior and female participation programs".
This project was made possible through funding from the Victorian Government's 100 Neighbourhood Batteries Program.
