The first stage of Australia’s largest shopping centre solar and battery microgrid has been launched by Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen at the Narellan Town Centre (NTC).

Developed by Specialist renewable energy and storage fund CEP.Energy, the renewable rooftop power plant provides about 35 per cent of the shopping centre and its 270 tenants’ energy needs.

The project consists of a 2.6MW solar system covering 12,577sqm with over 5600 solar panels, capable of saving some 3000 tonnes of carbon emissions per annum.

There are also 12 onsite batteries that hold 4MW / 10MWh of storage, able to feed enough power back into the grid and supply electricity to more than 1900 homes.

CEP.Energy has a 30-year lease agreement with NTC – covering approximately 35,000sqm of rooftop – to deliver a totally renewable energy solution. 

“This project commenced during Covid-19 and faced the same supply chain challenges as many other major infrastructure projects at that time. The completion of this milestone is therefore testament to a strong partnership and project team,” said Peter Wright, CEO of CEP.Energy.

Stage two of the project will deliver an enhanced solar system totalling 10MW, and increased battery storage of up to 20MW, Wright continued.

“The opportunity to replicate this type of large-scale, rooftop microgrid project across commercial and industrial assets in Australia is significant, particularly in south-west Sydney with its pipeline of development projects to service the new Western Sydney Airport.”