NSW shopping centre signs massive 10MW solar, 20MWh battery microgrid deal

By One Step Off The Grid’s reckoning, this is the biggest single solar and battery system to be installed on any shopping centre in Australia, and there are many, many, shopping centres that are installing solar across the country.

The next in line, in terms of solar, might be the 5.8MW array installed at the Vicinity Centres-owned Elizabeth City Centre in Adelaide in 2018. Vicinity’s Castle Plaza Centre, meanwhile, might have the next biggest battery system, at 500kWh.

“Embedded renewable energy networks offer long term benefits to landlords, tenants, investors and the community,” Wright said in a statement on Thursday. “NTC’s retail customers can expect to save about 20 per cent on their electricity bills.”

The agreement with NTC follows CEP.Energy’s foundation agreement with large-scale commercial and industrial property owner Pelligra to lease roof space and build and operate solar panels. In turn, CEP.Energy will offer tenants, predominantly small to medium businesses, solar energy at a reduced cost.

CEP’s secured property portfolio comprises several hundred properties, including former manufacturing sites in Geelong and Campbellfield in Melbourne’s north, and another outside of Adelaide. The overall portfolio includes existing buildings totalling more than 10 million square metres.

Wright said CEP.Energy aimed to have 1.5GW of solar and 1GW of battery energy storage providing a steady flow of low-cost energy for commercial, retail and industrial tenants across the country within five years.