Synertec secures TasNetworks contract for six community battery deployments under ARENA funding
Synertec Corporation Limited has executed a contract with TasNetworks to supply six Powerhouse Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) units across Tasmania, marking a significant entry into the community battery sector under the Synertec TasNetworks ARENA Battery Contract. The project, backed by funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), represents the only ARENA-funded community battery deployment programme in Tasmania and validates the commercial viability of Synertec’s technology for distribution-network applications.
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Synertec to deliver six front-of-the-meter BESS units for Tasmania’s distribution network
The contract sees Synertec design, manufacture, supply and commission six front-of-the-meter BESS units with a capacity of approximately 0.2MW / 0.4MWh each at selected locations on Tasmania’s distribution network. Funding comes from ARENA’s Advancing Renewables Program (Community Battery Round 1), positioning TasNetworks as both a new customer and a strategic entry point into the community and distribution-network battery sector for the Powerhouse platform.
This achievement represents dual validation: a state-owned utility selecting Synertec’s technology over competitors, and federal government backing through ARENA confirming the platform’s suitability for publicly funded infrastructure. The systems will be installed at publicly accessible sites and connected to existing network infrastructure to improve solar hosting capacity, manage peak demand, and support Tasmania’s transition to renewable power.
TasNetworks selected Synertec’s Powerhouse solution based on strict criteria including compact form factor, low noise profile, and a non-industrial aesthetic suitable for community environments. The technology’s proven performance with Santos in remote Queensland over several years provided additional validation for the network operator.
What are community batteries and why do they matter?
Community batteries are shared neighbourhood energy storage systems connected to the electricity distribution network before reaching individual homes. Unlike household batteries that serve a single property, these front-of-the-meter installations provide collective benefits to multiple premises by absorbing excess rooftop solar during the day and releasing stored energy during peak demand periods.
As Australia’s rooftop solar penetration increases, distribution networks face growing challenges managing bidirectional power flows and voltage fluctuations. Community batteries help alleviate these pressures by storing surplus generation locally rather than exporting it back through ageing grid infrastructure, potentially deferring expensive network upgrades.
TasNetworks aims to evaluate three key objectives through this deployment programme:
- Strengthening network reliability
- Increasing capacity to accommodate rooftop solar
- Informing future electricity tariff structures
The systems will allow TasNetworks to trade energy arbitrage opportunities to help reduce Tasmanian energy costs and actively participate in energy markets. They are also intended to provide improved voltage management, peak demand support and help defer network upgrades. This project represents a critical infrastructure category as distribution networks transition to accommodate distributed renewable generation at scale.
Why TasNetworks selected Synertec’s Powerhouse solution
The selection criteria focused heavily on community acceptance factors, differentiating Powerhouse from competing battery storage systems. TasNetworks required strict adherence to footprint, visual and noise criteria to ensure strong community acceptance at publicly accessible installation sites.
Synertec’s Powerhouse proposed design met these requirements through its compact form factor, low noise profile, and ability to be presented in a non-industrial aesthetic suitable for public environments. The technology’s exceptional proven performance for Santos over several years in remote Queensland provided tangible evidence of reliability and operational capability in demanding conditions.
The systems integrate advanced battery technology, power conversion systems and intelligent control architecture to develop viable commercial models for community batteries and build capability to deploy them at scale. This combination of design characteristics and proven track record positioned Powerhouse as the optimal solution for network-level deployments where aesthetics, noise and community acceptance matter.
Michael Carroll, Managing Director
“TasNetworks represents another new customer and a new application for our Powerhouse technology, and an important step for Synertec into the community and distribution-network battery sector, which we have been actively focused on for some time.”
Powerhouse platform capabilities
The Powerhouse platform is an AI-powered smart industrial scale technology that provides zero-emission renewable power to both microgrids and grid support applications. Available as stand-alone power or smart grid support, Powerhouse has been engineered for rapid and safe deployment, reliability and provides significant operating efficiencies at an industrial scale.
Key capabilities include:
- Zero-emission renewable power generation
- Modular and portable design enabling flexible deployment
- Remote operation capability eliminating unplanned site visits
- Integration with solar and wind sources for renewable energy capture
- Predictive Intelligence feature ensuring high availability of power
The platform operates at a cost advantage to traditional fossil-fuelled generators, saving on major operating costs such as fuel and maintenance whilst delivering positive NPV outcomes for customers.
| Feature | Capability | Community Battery Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | Compact, modular | Fits publicly accessible sites |
| Noise profile | Low | Meets residential proximity requirements |
| Aesthetics | Non-industrial design | Community acceptance |
| Control system | AI-powered predictive intelligence | Optimises solar hosting and demand management |
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Strategic implications for Synertec’s growth trajectory
This contract positions Synertec within a broader commercial momentum narrative, building on other Powerhouse deployments announced earlier this financial year for remote energy sector applications. The TasNetworks agreement demonstrates platform versatility across multiple applications and industries, validating the technology’s adaptability from remote industrial sites to urban community environments.
The market expansion from remote industrial to community and distribution-network applications opens a substantial new addressable market for the Powerhouse platform. Government-backed projects funded through ARENA reduce counterparty risk whilst providing technology validation through rigorous selection processes. This creates potential for Powerhouse to become an accepted solution across Australia’s community energy infrastructure requirements.
Michael Carroll, Managing Director
“We believe this product has the potential to become a standard offering across Australia to support community energy needs, improve solar hosting capacity and contribute to firming of the National Electricity Market.”
Synertec’s direct access to leading global battery, power conversion and control technologies, combined with its system integration expertise, has enabled the company to develop a unique modular solution suited to this emerging market. With growing demand for renewable, high-reliability energy systems in community and remote industrial operations, Synertec is positioned to scale Powerhouse across both domestic and global markets as distribution networks transition to accommodate distributed generation at scale.
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