Technology

Edge Centres EC3 Combines Solar, Battery Storage in Bendigo Data Centre

The Bendigo data centre development pairs on-site solar and battery storage with the city's broader push for local renewable generation.

By Bendigo Tech Desk · Published 25 July 2026

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Edge Centres EC3 Combines Solar, Battery Storage in Bendigo Data Centre — Photo by Chic Bee / Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

Edge Centres is developing its EC3 solar and battery-powered data centre in Bendigo, equipped with 300kW of on-site solar generation and 240kWh of battery storage as part of an off-grid network.

Council LED upgrades deliver immediate savings

The Greater Bendigo City Council has already converted 22,612 street lights to LED technology. That work is projected to cut $22.1 million in costs over 20 years while avoiding 172,626 tonnes of CO2e emissions. The savings free up funds that can support further local energy projects such as the Edge Centres installation.

Up to 20 percent of Bendigo homes now carry rooftop solar panels. These systems add to the municipality's capacity to reach 100 percent community-owned renewable energy under the Greater Bendigo Sustainability Strategy, which sets a target of zero carbon council operations by 2030 and 500 percent of 2021 energy demand generated locally by 2036.

Community solar already powers local assets

Community-owned solar arrays now supply half the electricity used by Bendigo Tramways. Separate installations serve the Bendigo Discovery Centre and the Archives Centre. These operating examples show how distributed solar can meet day-to-day demand without new grid infrastructure.

Edge Centres' choice of Bendigo for the EC3 site places the project inside an existing network of council, community and commercial renewable assets. The 300kW solar array and 240kWh battery will operate independently, demonstrating a scalable model for other regional data users.

Businesses and households interested in similar off-grid or hybrid systems can review the council's published strategy documents and contact Edge Centres directly for project details. The next steps involve tracking construction milestones and any public updates on grid-connection or performance data once the facility is energised.

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