Electric Avenue Tarneit

There will be no increase in our network charges due to this project. In fact, over time, we expect neighbourhood batteries like this will actually help reduce network charges for all customers by reducing the need for more costly network works.

Solar panel rebates are set by the Victorian Government, with rebates currently available for new and existing solar customers. The community battery installed by Powercor will have no impact on solar panel rebates.

If you live within a few streets of the battery location, then both your house and the battery will be connected to the same part of the Powercor network. This means that if you are exporting excess solar from your home’s system then this energy could be stored in the battery.  It also means that when the battery is discharging energy, then this could supply your electricity needs at home.  There is no direct connection to your house or solar system.

EMFs are present everywhere in our environment and are emitted from natural and human sources. All forms of power infrastructure like powerlines, transformers, substations, smart meters, and batteries, emit EMFs.  The EMF levels are very low and well within guidelines set for safe exposure.  Using a Safety in Design process for the Tarneit battery, we have built engineering control measures into the unit to minimise the potential for EMF to be emitted.

The fire risk is very low. We conduct fire safety studies to ensure the batteries are safe and comply with relevant Australian standards.

No, the Tarneit battery is not intended to provide back-up power.  If there is a power outage, then it is because something has gone wrong with the network that needs to be fixed before power can be restored.  Every connection along the line where there is a fault, including the battery connection, will be affected.

No, the Tarneit battery is not intended to provide back-up power.  If there is a power outage in an extreme storm or other major event, then it is because something has gone wrong with the network that needs to be fixed before power can be restored.  For example, it is most likely something has hit powerlines and brought them down.

The good news is we already recycling plans in place with battery provider Pixii and the battery manufacturer Polarium. At the end of the asset lifecycle, Polarium will re-purpose them to be reused in other industries or break down the battery and reuse the minerals as much as possible.

Most components of the battery are designed for a lifespan of a minimum of 10-15 years.

As battery technology evolves, Powercor will explore options to replace parts and functions to extend the lifespan of the battery.

Using innovative recycling technology that allows the treatment of the battery materials, scrap from the battery can be processed and recycled with a 95% recovery rate.

Minerals such as nickel, cobalt, manganese and lithium can be recovered for use in new batteries, while other materials such as aluminium, copper and plastics are sent to local recyclers for further processing.

Powecor already has recycling plans in place with battery designer, Pixii, and the battery manufacturer, Polarium.

At the end of the battery lifecycle, Polarium will take the batteries and re-purpose them to be reused in other industries, or they will break down the battery and reuse the minerals as much as possible.