The Yackandandah and Indigo Shire community celebrated the completion of Yackandandah’s second community battery, Yack ’02 at the local sports park last weekend.

The 65kW of solar and 100kW/200kWh battery is a testament to two years of focused work and collaboration.

This project received substantial grant funding from the Victorian government via the 100 Neighbourhood Batteries Program and the Australian Ethical Foundation, with additional funds from Yackandandah Community Centre.

The recent installation has already reduced the Sports Park facility power bills to near zero with the battery charging from solar generation on the sports park roof.

Power is used by sporting clubs each evening and the battery will export to the grid helping to reduce evening dependence on fossil fuels.

President of the Yackandandah Sports Park committee, Michael Walsh said the committee was thrilled to have this dynamic contribution from so many supporters.

‘This install gives us a huge nudge forward in our efforts to build an even better facility to support sport, recreator and community benefit,” he said.

With the increasing likelihood of extreme weather events, the battery also provides backup power to the main building.

During electricity outages, this provides a functional community facility with shelter, lighting, device charging, air conditioning, catering facilities, showers and toilets.

TRY president Matthew Charles-Jones, said TRY continues to hunt for, and implement pathways to save people money, reduce carbon emissions and build a fairer and more resilient power supply.

“With the looming closure of Australia’s fossil fuel-based energy system, we are so excited that renewable energy systems are now so available, accessible and successful,” he said.

"Exciting times are unfolding for communities in relation to energy.”

This project has been possible with the guidance, support and cooperation of the Yackandandah Sports Park Committee and Indigo Shire Council.