FAQs
Why do we need solar farms and BESS?
Solar farms and BESS play a crucial role in supporting clean energy and reducing environmental impact. Their key benefits include:
- Lower carbon emissions – Solar farms generate electricity without burning fossil fuels, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. BESS help optimise renewable energy use by storing excess power and minimising reliance on traditional energy sources, as well as reducing the risk of power outages and keeping energy prices low.
- Efficient land use – Solar farms and BESS can be built on under-utilised or degraded land, repurposing sites for sustainable energy production. Some sites can also retain their agricultural use – this is called agrivoltaics and can mean the continued use of the land for crop cultivation or livestock grazing. Agrivoltaics helps optimise land use, enhance soil health, reduce water evaporation and provide shade for animals or plants, creating a mutually beneficial system.
- Grid stability and renewable integration – BESS enhance grid reliability by storing and releasing energy when needed, which balances fluctuations in renewable energy generation and ensures a secure and steady supply of electricity.
- Reduction in air and water pollution – Unlike fossil fuel-based energy generation, solar farms and BESS do not produce harmful air pollutants or require large water supplies. This helps protect air quality and conserve water resources.
Solar farms and BESS play a key role in building a more resilient energy future while protecting natural resources.
How do your projects benefit local communities?
We are committed to building a positive legacy in the communities in which we operate. We recognise that each community is unique and strive to share benefits broadly. At their core, our projects are designed to benefit local communities, by securing reliable and affordable energy for the future.
Local community benefit from our projects can include:
- A boost to the local and regional economy and local businesses
- Jobs during construction, operations and maintenance
- Landowner and neighbour agreements
- Wider community benefit sharing.
We strive to build long term social and economic benefits for local communities. We take a tailored approach to benefit sharing, collaboratively designing our programs with landowners, local councils, key stakeholders, and Community Reference Groups. We seek to support initiatives that create lasting value – from job opportunities and scholarships, enhancement of community infrastructure and facilities, to community grants and environmental programs, we ensure that our projects contribute to thriving local communities while advancing sustainable energy solutions.
How do you keep people informed about your projects?
We value and prioritise genuine and in-person engagement with our landowners, communities and stakeholders. You can often find out team working on-site, visiting neighbours, hosting community drop-in sessions, attending events, or hosting meetings and briefings.
We also aim to provide up to date information on our website, newsletters, fact sheets, and construction updates. Please get in touch if you would like to know more about our projects.
How do you involve communities in planning for, and making decisions about, your projects?
We seek to build positive relationships and partnerships throughout the lifecycle of our projects. We begin consulting our key stakeholders in the early stages of a project, including local councils, landowners, and surrounding communities to identify challenges and collaboratively design benefit sharing programs
How do you select a location for your projects?
We are committed to building a positive legacy in the communities in which we operate. We recognise that each community is unique and strive to share benefits broadly. At their core, our projects are designed to benefit local communities, by securing reliable and affordable energy for the future.
Local community benefit from our projects can include:
- A boost to the local and regional economy and local businesses
- Jobs during construction, operations and maintenance
- Landowner and neighbour agreements
- Wider community benefit sharing.
We strive to build long term social and economic benefits for local communities. We take a tailored approach to benefit sharing, collaboratively designing our programs with landowners, local councils, key stakeholders, and Community Reference Groups. We seek to support initiatives that create lasting value – from job opportunities and scholarships, enhancement of community infrastructure and facilities, to community grants and environmental programs, we ensure that our projects contribute to thriving local communities while advancing sustainable energy solutions.
How do your Solar Farms and BESS projects connect to the grid?
Our projects are carefully designed and strategically located to integrate seamlessly with the energy grid. For solar farms, electricity generated from solar panels is converted from direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) using inverters. This AC power is then transmitted through transformers to match the voltage requirements of the grid. The electricity is fed into the local distribution or transmission network, supplying power to homes, businesses, and utility-scale consumers.
BESS projects play a crucial role in grid stability by storing excess energy and dispatching it when demand is high. They connect to the grid via transformers and power conversion systems, allowing them to charge when surplus electricity is available and discharge when needed. This helps balance fluctuations, enhance reliability, and support the integration of renewable energy sources.
In selecting our project sites we prioritise locations that enable direct connection to existing energy infrastructure. By mitigating the need to build new infrastructure we reduce any adverse impacts on local communities and the environment,
How do your projects co-exist with agriculture on site?
Our projects are carefully planned to ensure they complement existing agricultural activities, rather than disrupt them. In many cases, our developments occupy a small portion of an existing lot, leaving much of the land available for continued agricultural use. We also take care to avoid high-value agricultural land, ensuring our sites do not disrupt essential food production areas.
Where possible, we will seek to integrate solutions like agrivoltaics, allowing agricultural activities such as livestock grazing or certain types of crop cultivation to occur alongside our energy infrastructure. This approach will help maximise land efficiency while delivering clean energy. Additionally, we work closely with landowners and stakeholders to ensure our projects align with local farming needs and contribute positively to regional sustainability.
How do you minimise the visual impact of your projects?
We carefully consider the impact of our projects on visual amenity and seek to ensure that they integrate with their surroundings. During site selection, we prioritise locations that naturally reduce visual impact, such as areas with existing vegetation, terrain features, and distance from residential dwellings and neighbourhoods.
We also develop tailored landscaping plans for each project to soften the appearance of infrastructure and maintain the aesthetic integrity of the area. When planting trees, shrubs or other vegetation, we partner with local businesses and prioritise native vegetation.
Engaging with community and stakeholders is a key part of this process – we seek to understand concerns early to implement fit-for-purpose solutions that reduce any visual impact and preserve the character of the surrounding landscape.
How do you manage noise from your projects?
BESS typically produce low levels of noise, peaking when they charge or release energy. Typically, this is expected to take place mid-morning (charge) and in the late afternoon (release).
The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) sets out the maximum recommended noise levels for commerce, industry and trade premises. We will comply with the applicable criteria and keep the community informed of our works and any changes.
What BESS units do you use and why did you select this manufacturer?
Our choice of manufacturer varies for each project, as we carefully assess the specific requirements and best available technologies at the time of planning to ensure optimal performance and reliability. Safety, efficiency and sustainability remain at the core of every decision we make, including selecting BESS units, to ensure we meet the highest industry standards.
Do your BESS projects pose a fire risk?
The BESS units on our projects are equipped with advanced fire suppression systems, including aerosol fire suppressants, combustible gas detectors, smoke detectors and temperature detectors, which are designed to detect and extinguish fires promptly.
We incorporate fire and bushfire risk management techniques gathered from consultation with relevant fire brigades, services and authorities, which may include creating significant fuel breaks, maintaining a substantial water supply, ensuring easy access to responders, and implementing robust evacuation and staff training programs.
Have your BESS units undergone fire testing, and what standards do they meet?
The BESS ACEnergy uses have undergone extensive fire safety testing and meet stringent international safety standards to ensure protection against fire and thermal events. Our BESS are certified for IEC 62619 (battery safety), IEC 62477-1 (power system safety), UL 9540A (thermal runaway fire testing), UL 9540 (BESS safety certification), and UL 1973 (battery performance and safety).
A large-scale burn test confirmed that the BESS product can effectively contain fire within a single unit, preventing spread to adjacent units. Even when placed at the minimum allowable separation distance, neighbouring units remained below critical thermal runaway thresholds, demonstrating strong fire containment and safety measures.
These tests confirm that the BESS meets best industry practice for fire safety and reliability, ensuring compliance with both international and Australian regulatory requirements.
What happens to your Solar Farms and BESS projects at the end of their operational life?
Solar farms and BESS projects are designed for long-term operation, typically spanning several decades. At the end of their lifespan, we will ensure a carefully planned decommissioning and repurposing process in line with our environmental responsibility and sustainable land use.
Decommissioning a solar farm involves safely removing the solar panels, inverters, and associated infrastructure. Many components, including photovoltaic panels, wiring, and metal framework, can be recycled or repurposed. In some cases, our sites may be restored to their original condition or transitioned to other renewable energy uses.
Similarly, BESS projects undergo a structured decommissioning process. Battery systems are dismantled and may be recycled or repurposed for secondary applications.
We will work closely with landowners and relevant authorities and regulatory parties to ensure responsible site management at the time of decommissioning.
Who can I contact if I have questions or feedback?
You can reach out to our team at community@acenergy.com.au.
Who can I contact if I have a complaint?
If you have a complaint, please email us at community@acenergy.com.au. Please include as much detail as possible so we can understand and address the issue effectively. We’re committed to resolving complaints promptly and professionally.