Phillip Island Neighbourhood Batteries
Community Energy
Working with the Phillip Island community to design and build a sustainable community energy solution.
Mondo, in collaboration with the Bass Coast Shire Council and TRPI plan to install the 205 kWh batteries at seven separate locations across the Island, with double batteries (410 kWh) at the remaining two locations.
The batteries, which are sized just larger than a public phone box, aims to act as “solar sponge,” soaking up excess daytime solar energy generation for later use, thereby facilitating the transition towards renewable energy sources and supporting the community’s Climate Change Action Plan.
Get involved
Join our online information session
Mondo warmly invite the community to join us on 5 February online to learn more about this exciting initiative and the community benefits it will offer to the island. We will provide project updates, additional information, and insights on the 7 neighbourhood batteries.
For more information about our upcoming information session, visit our event page to secure a ticket.
Project Update
Key project updates
Since the funding was announced, big steps were taken to prepare for the installation of the seven planned neighbourhood batteries.
Mondo has worked hard over the past five months to ensure we are selecting the best locations. Based on feedback from the May 2024 community session, Bass Coast Shire, TRPI, and local neighbors, the selection of battery sites considered various factors, including:
- Proximity to significant vegetation, to minimise risk
- Suitable parcels of land to sympathetic to the neighbourhood
- Accessible location for safe construction and battery maintenance
- The land is not affected by above or below ground services (water, sewerage, communications, electrical), nor pose a risk to passing vehicular traffic
- Battery placement needs to support a transformer with high densities of solar generation to optimise daytime charge and allow strong electrical connection to the network
- Strict adherence to the rules and guidelines of the Country Fire Authority (CFA) and the Victorian Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
As the project develops, Mondo will be hosting information sessions for Borough of Queenscliffe and Phillip Island to keep local communities informed.
Battery sites
Where are the batteries being deployed?
Mondo have narrowed down the seven proposed battery sites across the Island. These sites were selected due to solar hosting, land access and lowest impact on the community.
- Berninneit – Thompson Avenue (205 kWh)
- Recreation Reserve – Corner Kembla Road and Pasadena Drive (410 kWh)
- Recreation Reserve – Corner Seagrass Avenue and Everton Drive (205 kWh)
- Recreation Reserve – Goodwood Drive and Elvington Avenue (410 kWh)
- Recreation Reserve – Hallway Drive (Wimbledon Heights) (205 kWh)
- Council Depot – Settlement Road (205 kWh)
- Park – Katherine Circuit (205 kWh)
100 Neighbourhood Batteries
Key facts about funding
- There will be four batteries in the Borough of Queenscliffe and seven batteries at Phillip Island
- Funding has been awarded at $300,000 per battery, plus contributions from Mondo (project developer)
- The Mondo project was introduced to Phillip Island at a town hall at Berninneit information session during May 2024
- The project is due for completion in August 2025, with installation scheduled to start in February 2025.
About the project
Who has been involved in Phillip Island?
This project was created from shared ambitions on renewable energy, community development and positive action on climate change, between Totally Renewable Phillip Island (TRPI), the Bass Coast Shire Council and Mondo.
Key project figures
Key facts about the planned batteries
To support more power generated locally, stored locally and used locally.
- Five of the battery systems onsite will have a power rating of 100 kW and energy storage capacity of 205 kWh
- Two sites will have a system of 200 kW / 410 kWh
- The 100kW/250kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePo4) batteries will be 3 metres x 5 metres in size
- Mondo will own and maintain all batteries
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Six batteries will be in a ‘front of meter’ while the seventh battery, at Beninneit, will be ‘behind the meter’
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The batteries will reflect and integrate the community aesthetic.
Mondo is an energy services company based in Melbourne and is a commercial subsidiary of AusNet. Mondo has been working with Victorian communities to help them achieve their renewable energy goals. Mondo has been pioneering community energy projects since 2017, including microgrids, virtual power plants, Stand Alone Power Systems and energy resilience solutions.
The Victorian Government is investing in 100 neighbourhood-scale batteries across the state through the 100 Neighbourhood Batteries (100NB) Program. In the first round of funding, $2.1 million was awarded to Mondo to install, maintain and operate 7 batteries (each 100kW/250kWh) on Phillip Island. Mondo will contribute the remainder of the project costs.
Victoria’s energy grid was originally designed for a one-way flow of power, moving energy from where it’s made to where it’s needed. Rooftop solar generation, and other renewable power generation, needs a more dynamic, two-way flow of electricity. To maintain a stable electricity supply and to harness as much renewable energy as possible, we need more storage at the network, district, neighbourhood, and property levels.
The batteries will be buying and selling energy on the wholesale energy market, similar to your electricity retailer, typically charging from the grid during the day with solar energy and storing this energy until it is needed in the evening or early morning, when demand is high, and renewable energy supply is limited.
Mondo will select quality, proven, utility grade storage solutions to ensure the community’s safety. The batteries will utilise the stable lithium-ion phosphate (LiFePo4) battery chemistry, have multiple protection systems and remote monitoring. Mondo is responsible for the ongoing maintenance and vegetation management around the batteries.
The batteries will be part of the energy grid and will charge from locally generated solar and the energy available from the wider network to support high evening or seasonal demands at Phillip Island.
Essentially the batteries will not prevent outages.
The batteries will function to improve the local network’s ability to absorb excess solar energy during the day and export during periods of higher demand. The batteries will not operate or provide back-up power during an outage. However, by storing excess solar the batteries may help address challenges associated with summer peak loads.
Mondo is currently working with Bass Coast Shire Council to determine if one or more of the batteries could be installed at significant Council buildings to provide back-up power during an outage.
No, your personal electricity plan and your choice of energy retailer will not be impacted.
The batteries are around the size of 2 to 3 refrigerators standing together. The expected overall footprint will be approximately 5 metres by 3 metres however this may vary slightly from site to site due to specific locational requirements.
The batteries do emit some noise when charging or discharging power, predominantly caused by the cooling system, similar to a reverse cycle air conditioner.
The batteries will adhere to Environment Protection Authority (EPA) requirements and extra noise reduction methods will be used if needed. Noise levels will be assessed following the installation of the batteries.
The batteries will be strategically located in areas with substantial local solar generation. If there is any shortfall of locally generated solar energy, the battery will be charged from solar or other generation sources on the grid.
Mondo has reviewed available battery solutions and has selected a suitable storage technology to meet the 100NB project requirements to deliver the best overall safety, value for money and performance outcomes.
The expected operational life for each battery is approximately 15 years, depending on the number of charge/discharge cycles. Mondo will maintain and monitor the batteries to maximise life.
It is unknown what the energy landscape will look like at the end of the batteries expected life. However, circular economy practices continue to evolve to provide responsible options to reuse or recycle end-of-life batteries. Once the batteries do reach end of life, a decision will be made by Mondo with the local council on how best to remove, re-purpose or recycle them.
A number of battery solutions that are manufactured in Australia are being considered. Wherever possible, Mondo will ensure that the battery solution utilises as many locally sourced components as possible.
Local emergency services will be briefed on the batteries and their specific locations. If required, emergency services will follow their procedures on managing incidents.
Neighbourhood-scale batteries are classified as minor utility installations under the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and do not typically require a planning permit. However, each site will be considered by Mondo and the Council with regard to overlays, specific values, heritage considerations, proximity to neighbours, and high tide levels.
Mondo is working closely with the Bass Coast Shire and Totally Renewable Phillip Island (TRIPI) to develop a fund arrangement that is fair and transparent. The fund is intended to support community renewable energy projects.
Mondo’s Phillip Island 100NB project page will have up to date information on the project and will be updated as the project progresses..
Our community project partner TRPI will provide updates on their newsletter page.
Want to know more? Contact the team
For any questions email Matthew Charles-Jones at community@mondo.com.au.
To get involved in this project, go to totallyrenewablephillipisland.weebly.com.
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