Implementation will be driven by your business model and your situation, so will be quite variable in terms of sequence and timeline. We have provided a sequence and timeline here to give you an indication of what you need to do to implement your neighbourhood battery project. This will give you a rough picture, but note that implementation is very project and context-specific.
Note also that implementation is not just about getting the battery installed; it’s also about setting up the governance and social infrastructure to keep the battery and the project going. Remember that governance – making decisions about and taking responsibility for the battery – is long term, or at least as long as the lifetime of the battery. Community groups need to consider ongoing governance, management and maintenance, including responding to changing circumstances in the energy system, and whether the project has the resources and cash flow to sustain this. Also, do you have people in your group who can make this commitment, or do you need to factor in paid positions to ensure ongoing maintenance of the project and the battery.
