Community battery in Richmond
Published on 03 August 2026
West Torrens is getting a community battery.
Groundworks at Kingston Avenue, Richmond, have started where a 700kVA/1828kWh community battery will be installed, providing much needed energy back to the power grid when it's most needed.
The emPowering SA project, jointly funded by the State Government, energy retailer AGL and the Australian Government's Community Batteries for Household Solar program, is designed to help low-income households with the cost of living by providing eligible South Australian households with access to discounted electricity.
The battery in West Torrens is one of 18 to be installed across the state, with the council working with the Department for Energy and Mining (DEM) to deliver the community battery.
The community battery operates by storing excess rooftop solar energy that is locally created during the day and dispatching it back to the grid when demand is high. This helps ease pressure on the electricity network and provides cost of living relief to those who need it most.
"Being part of this statewide project and having a community battery in West Torrens gives people in our community who are most in need the ability to take advantage of the benefits of low-cost renewable energy," Mayor Michael Coxon said.
"It also helps to stabilise the local electricity network and make better use of excess solar power that has been generated.
"We're proud and privileged to be part of the emPowering initiative, which we understand when the statewide rollout is complete will support around 10,000 people who most need it ."
The community battery in Richmond, measures 12 metres x 7 metres and instillation is expected to be completed in about 4 - 5 weeks.
"Priority for cheaper power will be given to nominated households in West Torrens and then provided to others who have registered for assistance," Mayor Coxon added.
"This is welcome news for people who rent, are on low or fixed incomes, and have little opportunity to invest in renewable energy."
More information about the emPower community battery project can be found at energymining.sa.gov.au
If you believe you are eligible to be part of this program, visit empowering.sa.gov.au/join