Engineering student start-up Enitiate looks at battery storage feasibility in a small local area in Perth. We chatted to co-founder Caleb McKenna about the student-led organisation. 

Can you tell us about what inspired you to start Enitiate?  

Through early exposure to industry, I quickly learnt that the study of engineering is a different skill to the practice of professional engineering. Although most practicing engineers would agree with this statement, many engineering students may not understand this reality. In a university setting, the environment is very controlled, and problems are very well defined with a clear answer to obtain. However, in professional engineering practice, the environment is dynamic and unpredictable, required information must first be identified, then investigated and critically analysed, problems are difficult to fully define, and the path forward is not always clear.  

I saw the energy and fresh perspectives that engineering students offer to be an untapped potential. Students bring a level of excitement and innovation that is unique and valuable to organisations. Therefore, I started Enitiate as a mechanism to channel this energy into projects that directly benefit the community, while developing these professionally relevant skills in students.  

How did you come up with the idea of the battery storage? 

Part of Enitiate’s mission is to provide a mechanism for our students to directly engage with community partners to tackle problems that benefit society, a significant component of which is environment and sustainability.  

We consulted directly with the Town of Mosman Park, and they informed us that given the appetite of their residents to engage in sustainable energy practices, the topic of community battery storage continually arose in discussion. Therefore, we agreed with the town that a project investigating the feasibility of a community battery storage system would be a great initiative for us to start with. 

Our project team used numerical modelling to perform a cost-benefit analysis of a community battery storage system for the town and explored various funding options. This factored in certain technical elements such as transmission losses, battery degradation, battery capacity and local grid capabilities. It was found that the expected decrease in the cost of battery cell technology will have a significant impact on the financial feasibility of the community batteries.  

What hopes do you have for Enitiate in future?  

I have many high hopes for Enitiate’s future. As with any student organisation, it is crucial to establish a good culture that produces high value work and delivers a rewarding experience to its students. 

I hope for Enitiate to continue to grow, engaging larger amounts of students each semester, having a wider impact in the community, and strengthening its support networks within industry. My hope is that one day Enitiate is broadly recognised as a complimentary component of all engineering students’ university experience, not just in WA but throughout Australia. I hope for our projects to deliver genuine value to our community partners, providing them with insight they otherwise would not have, and energetic student engagement to support their purpose.  

How can Engineers Australia student members get involved or support? 

For student members, they can of course apply to be a part of our project teams! For members from states outside of WA who believe a mechanism such as this should exist in their state and would be interested in the prospect of initiating an inter-state branch, express your interest here.   

Click here for more information or email at [email protected].