The Victorian Government has awarded funding to The Salvation Army through its 100 Neighbourhood Batteries grant program, enabling AGL to install 88 batteries across 22 Salvation Army sites in Victoria.
The initiative aims to support The Salvation Army’s sustainability goals while enhancing energy resilience at its crisis accommodation centres, homelessness outreach services, drug and alcohol centres, and corporate offices—many of which already have rooftop solar.
AGL’s Group General Manager, Electrification and Innovation, Ryan Warburton, welcomed the 88 batteries grant, stating that it would help integrate battery storage with existing solar systems to better manage energy use.
“Australia is one of the biggest adopters of rooftop solar worldwide, and at times solar makes up most of our electricity market’s generation,” Warburton said.
“This presents an opportunity for batteries to absorb and store the abundance of rooftop solar energy generated in the middle of the day when prices are cheaper and contribute to stabilisation of the grid.”
He also highlighted the role of government-backed initiatives in accelerating the uptake of consumer energy resources, such as home and community battery storage, which are seen as critical in Australia’s energy transition.
AGL said it has been working with The Salvation Army for five years on decarbonisation efforts, including solar installations and broader community initiatives such as the Red Shield Appeal, flood relief efforts, and Light the Way Christmas campaign.
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