Ausgrid installs first power pole mounted battery in Maitland

Monday, 3 July 2023

Ausgrid installs first power pole mounted battery in Maitland

Trial of pole mounted batteries will improve the understanding of the customer benefits, and technical challenges of deployment of small scale batteries in overhead network areas.  

Ausgrid has installed the first pole mounted battery in Maitland, in a trial that will look at the viability of small pole-top batteries to support the network during peak demand or high solar export times. This trial will complement our larger community battery program by developing our understanding of the benefits, and technical challenges of deployment. 

The learnings of this trial will build on the understanding of a range of flexible solutions to support growth of renewable energy in our networks, while also demonstrating the ability to improve network hosting capacity, reduce voltage imbalance and manage peak loads. 

Junayd Hollis, Ausgrid’s EGM of Asset Management, said if successful, the pole-top battery systems could avoid the need for more extensive network augmentation that would otherwise be necessary to address network constraints.  

 

“The system will provide localised energy storage and grid support, helping to support more efficient and reliable electrical infrastructure while facilitating the transition to net zero.” 

The trial pole-top batteries, manufactured by EcoJoule Energy, will support all properties connected to the local distribution network, with the first trial locations in Maitland, Newcastle and the Central Coast.