“No Upfront Cost” Community Initiative for Batteries and Solar Power Wins $10,000 Prize

The South Australian city of Mitcham has been recognised for its “pioneering” Community Renewable Energy Program, which provides solar panels and home batteries to households and businesses at no upfront cost. Mitcham’s Community Renewable Energy Program, located in the foothills of southern Adelaide, was named the overall and government category winner of the Premier’s Climate Change Committee 2024 SA Climate Leaders Awards last week, awarding the city a $10,000 prize. The program, which first launched in 2021, has delivered more than 900 systems to date, totalling 4MW of solar capacity and 10MWh of battery storage. Designed to ease cost-of-living pressures for residents while reducing carbon emissions, the program is managed by New South Wales-based solar provider ShineHub. Since the launch of the program, the City of Mitcham has conducted three community bulk purchases that included a $0 down payment option for residents, providing immediate cost savings. Most Program participants also signed up to participate in the Virtual Power Plant (VPP). According to a June council briefing, the Program has installed a total of 932 systems across the city, with a payback period of 4.5 years. Interestingly, according to the City of Mitcham, the total annual electricity bill for residents participating in the Program was over $3 million before the solar panels and batteries were installed. However, after installation, the total combined annual electricity bill for those same residents dropped to just $231,000. “We are proud of what we have achieved so far and look forward to helping to achieve equitable access to affordable renewable energy for the entire community,” said Dr. Heather Holmes-Ross, Mayor of Mitcham. Future plans for the Community Renewable Energy Program include the introduction of large community batteries in local parks to support residents who are unable to install solar panels and batteries, as well as electric vehicle (EV) charging points linked to solar panel installations and integrated with VPPs.