How Councils Can Use Solar + Battery Systems to Reduce Energy Costs and Improve Reliability

Across Australia, local councils are facing two converging challenges: rising energy costs and increasing pressure to ensure community resilience during extreme weather events. With electricity prices becoming unpredictable and networks experiencing more frequent outages, councils are rethinking how they power their facilities.

Solar + battery systems have emerged as one of the most effective ways to reduce operational costs, strengthen energy independence, and support essential services. In this blog, we explore how councils can use these systems strategically; not just to save money, but to improve reliability, support sustainability goals, and protect residents during emergencies.

Why Solar + Battery Is Becoming Essential for Councils

Traditionally, councils adopted solar to reduce electricity bills and support climate commitments. Today, the motivation goes far deeper.

Councils now need:

• protection against rising energy prices
• backup power for critical community facilities
• improved resilience for vulnerable residents
• better long-term budgeting certainty
• solutions that support disaster preparedness

Solar alone cannot provide backup power. But paired with modern battery systems and hybrid inverters, councils gain the ability to store solar energy, run facilities during blackouts, and significantly reduce reliance on the grid.

Key Benefits of Solar + Battery Systems for Councils

1. Substantial Energy Cost Reductions

Solar systems generate electricity during daylight hours, reducing consumption from the grid. When combined with batteries, councils can:

• store excess solar
• use stored energy during peak tariffs
• avoid high demand charges
• improve load-shifting
• support efficient HVAC operations

This creates immediate and long-term savings across:

• community centres
• libraries
• aquatic facilities
• administration buildings
• sports pavilions
• depots

For budget-constrained councils, these savings become highly attractive.

During storms, fires, and prolonged outages, certain council buildings must remain operational:

• emergency relief centres
• neighbourhood houses
• town halls
• communication hubs
• depot facilities
• water pumping stations

Solar alone shuts down in a blackout, but solar + battery systems with backup-capable inverters provide seamless, automatic islanding, keeping the site powered.

This ensures:

• heating/cooling
• phone charging
• critical communication
• refrigeration for medicines
• emergency coordination

remain operational for hours or days, depending on system size.

3. Long-Term Protection from Energy Price Volatility

Electricity pricing is becoming more complex and more volatile. Batteries help councils control exposure to peak rates by allowing:

• peak shaving
• off-peak charging
• self-consumption optimisation
• demand response participation

This makes budgeting more predictable.

4. Better Use of Underutilised Buildings

Many council buildings have large roofs ideal for solar, but have historically been underused during the day.

Examples:

• sports pavilions
• halls
• showgrounds
• recreation reserves

By pairing solar with battery storage, councils can transform these sites into community resilience hubs, capable of powering essential services during emergencies while saving money year-round.

5. Alignment with Sustainability and Net-Zero Goals

Solar + battery installations support:

• municipal climate action plans
• net-zero pathways
• emissions reduction targets
• energy transition commitments

Battery systems also avoid diesel generator use, reducing noise, fumes, fire risk, and emissions.

What a Council Solar + Battery Strategy Looks Like

A strategic rollout involves more than installing panels wherever there’s roof space. Councils should follow a structured approach:

1. Identify Priority Buildings

Focus on facilities that:

• serve as evacuation or community hubs
• operate during emergencies
• have high energy loads
• have large roof space or open land

2. Conduct Energy Audits and Load Profiling

Understanding how energy is used across time helps determine:

• solar sizing
• battery capacity
• peak periods
• opportunities for demand management

3. Choose the Right Battery Technology

For council-scale resilience, LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) is preferred for:

• long cycle life
• high safety
• thermal stability
• compatibility with backup operations

4. Ensure Backup-Capable Inverters Are Installed

Standard solar inverters cannot provide backup during outages. Councils must choose:

• hybrid inverters
• off-grid inverters
• microgrid-capable systems

This ensures resilience during blackouts.

5. Integration with Portable Backup Solutions

By adding mobile units, like the BuffaloSPS Power Generation Trailer; councils gain flexible power that can be:

• deployed to isolated communities
• used at emergency staging areas
• paired with fixed solar/hub infrastructure

This creates a layered resilience approach.

6. Use of Centralised Monitoring and Reporting

Advanced monitoring allows councils to track:

• energy savings
• battery performance
• backup readiness
• solar generation
• sustainability metrics

This simplifies reporting for internal teams and community engagement.

Case Example: A Typical Council Deployment

A medium-sized regional council might deploy:

• 50–100 kW solar on a community centre
• 30–200 kWh of battery storage
• a hybrid inverter stack allowing full backup
• portable power units on standby

During normal operations, this system reduces bills by 30–60%.
During outages, it becomes a lifeline for residents.

Solar + battery systems allow councils to achieve cost savings, reduce carbon emissions, and provide essential resilience for their communities. With weather events becoming more intense and grid reliability decreasing, the ability to produce and store energy locally is no longer a “green initiative”, it’s a necessity.

Buffalo Stand-Alone Power Solutions works with councils across Australia to design tailored solar-battery systems and resilience plans that align with budgets, emergency needs, building portfolios, and long-term sustainability goals.