About our projects

Why do we need solar farms and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)?

Solar farms generate electricity from sunlight. A battery energy storage system (BESS) stores electricity when supply is high and releases it when it is needed. Together they support a cleaner, more reliable energy system.

•         Lower emissions: solar farms generate electricity without burning fossil fuels. BESS help make better use of renewable energy by storing surplus power, which reduces reliance on fossil-fuelled generation.

•         A more stable grid: BESS store and release energy when needed, balancing the ups and downs of renewable generation and helping maintain a secure and steady supply. This can also help reduce the risk of power outages and put downward pressure on energy prices.

•         Efficient land use: solar farms and BESS can be built on under-used or degraded land. Some solar sites also keep agricultural activity, such as grazing, alongside the panels (known as agrivoltaics).

•         Less air and water pollution: unlike fossil fuel generation, solar farms and BESS do not produce air pollutants when operating, and they use very little water.

We prioritise sites close to existing energy infrastructure. Connecting to what is already there reduces the need to build new infrastructure and reduces impacts on communities and the environment.

Solar farms: inverters convert the direct current (DC) electricity from the panels into alternating current (AC). Transformers then adjust the voltage to match the grid, and the power is fed into the local distribution or transmission network, supplying homes, businesses and large energy users.

BESS: batteries connect to the grid through power conversion systems and transformers. They charge when there is surplus electricity and discharge when demand is high, which helps balance supply and demand and supports more renewable energy in the grid.

Site selection looks at many factors together. We consider:

  • Grid connection: proximity to existing transmission or distribution infrastructure, so that new infrastructure is kept to a minimum
  • Land use: we aim to avoid high-value agricultural land, and look for sites where projects can coexist with existing farming
  • Neighbours and visual amenity: distance from homes and townships, and sites where the landscape helps limit views of the project
  • Environment and cultural heritage: avoiding or minimising impacts on biodiversity, waterways and places of cultural significance, informed by specialist studies and engagement with Traditional Owners
  • Landowner input: we are guided by landowners who want to host a project, and by how they use and manage their land
  • Planning suitability: whether the site is appropriate under state and local planning requirements.

We also talk with councils, neighbours and the community early, so local knowledge can shape where and how a project is built.

We don’t use a single manufacturer. We select BESS units by project, based on each site’s requirements and the best available technology at the time of planning. Our priorities are safety, performance, reliability and sustainability, and we assess every option against recognised industry standards. 

Our communities

How do your projects benefit local communities?

Our projects bring economic benefits to the places where we develop, build and operate. Construction, operations and maintenance create jobs, and we use local businesses and suppliers where we can, which supports the local and regional economy.

Beyond this, we want to leave a positive legacy in the communities where we work. For our transmission-level projects, we design benefit sharing programs together with the local community, local councils, and key stakeholders. Each community is different, so every program is tailored to local priorities. Programs can include community grants, scholarships, upgrades to communities, and environmental programs.

We value in-person conversations with landowners, neighbours and the community. You may see our team visiting neighbours, running community information sessions, attending local events, or holding meetings and briefings.

We also share information through our website, newsletters and factsheets. If you would like to know more about a project, please visit the relevant project page. If you’d like to get in touch or would like to be added to our mailing list, you can reach us at community@acenergy.com.au

Our aim is to build projects that fit the local setting and have community support. We engage communities early, before designs are finalised, because their local knowledge makes our projects better. We consult councils, landowners, neighbours, Traditional Owners and the wider community before designs are finalised, so we understand local priorities and concerns.

That input can directly shape the project, including its layout, landscaping and screening, construction traffic arrangements and community benefit programs. We report back on what we heard and what has changed. Where something hasn’t changed, we explain why.

Engagement also runs alongside the formal planning approval process, which gives the community further opportunities to comment on a project.

Before a project can be built, it must be assessed and approved by the relevant planning authority under state planning laws. Studies covering matters such as noise, visual impact, traffic, biodiversity, cultural heritage and fire risk are prepared and made available for public comment, and anyone can make a submission. The authority considers those submissions before deciding whether to approve the project and what conditions apply.

For current approval status and how to have your say on a particular project, see the relevant project page.

Traffic and access arrangements are assessed as part of planning. A traffic management plan sets out the routes, vehicle numbers and safety measures for each project, with the aim of keeping disruption to local roads and residents to a minimum.

Construction hours are set by each project’s approval conditions, which are designed to limit disruption. Work outside those hours is only carried out where the conditions allow it.

We notify neighbours ahead of significant works and any temporary traffic changes, and you can contact us at any time with questions or concerns.

We understand this is a concern for neighbours. Australian research to date has found no clear evidence that renewable energy projects reduce nearby property values, but every property is different. We aim to reduce impacts on neighbours through careful site selection, landscaping and screening, and noise management, and we are happy to talk through your concerns.

Land and the environment

How do your projects co-exist with agriculture?

We plan our projects to complement existing agricultural activity. In many cases, a project occupies only part of a property, leaving the rest available for farming. We aim to avoid high-value agricultural land so that essential food production is not disrupted.

Where possible, we look at agrivoltaics, which allows activities such as sheep grazing or certain crops alongside solar panels. It makes more efficient use of the land while generating clean energy. We work closely with landowners and neighbours so that projects fit with local farming needs.

Visual impact is considered from the start. During site selection we favour locations where existing vegetation, terrain and distance from homes naturally reduce visibility. Each project then has a tailored landscaping plan to soften its appearance and fit the character of the area, using native vegetation provided by local suppliers.

We also ask neighbours and the community about their concerns early, so that screening and design solutions can be developed with local input.

We consider nearby residents and the local area when planning for noise, from site selection through to design and operation.

BESS typically produce low levels of noise, mostly from cooling systems and transformers. The level can change with how much the system is charging or discharging.

Noise is assessed as part of planning against the applicable state criteria, set by the relevant environmental authority. Our projects are designed to meet these criteria. We select equipment and design the layout to reduce noise at nearby homes, and where needed use measures such as noise barriers.

Solar panels are designed to absorb as much sunlight as possible rather than reflect it. They reflect far less light than most people expect, but at certain sun angles some glare can occur. Where a project is close to homes, roads or aviation, a glare assessment is carried out as part of planning, and layouts or screening are adjusted if needed.

Specialist ecologists survey each site before design is finalised, so we understand what is there before decisions are made. We aim first to avoid sensitive areas, then reduce impacts through design. Where impacts remain, we manage them as required by the project’s approvals, which may include offsets or habitat restoration.

Where our solar farms use tracking systems, the trackers are linked to weather sensors and forecasts. When severe weather is expected, the system rotates the panels to a steep angle to reduce the risk of hail damage. Panels are also tested for hail impact as part of their certification.

Solar panels are made mostly from tempered glass, silicon, aluminium, copper and durable polymers. The small amounts of metals in the electrical connections are sealed inside the laminated panel. Panels do not contain liquids, and the materials are stable and do not readily dissolve in soil or water.

If a panel is damaged, our maintenance team is alerted, and any broken components are collected and disposed of safely, or recycled where possible,  in line with applicable standards.

Safety

Do your BESS projects pose a fire risk?

Battery fires are rare, but they are a risk, and we design and manage our projects to prevent them and to limit the consequences if one occurs. Safety is assessed at every stage, from site selection through to operation.

Our BESS are designed with multiple layers of protection. Units are fitted with gas, smoke and temperature detection, continuous monitoring and fire suppression systems, designed to detect problems early and respond before they escalate. The system is also designed so that a problem in one battery module is contained and does not spread to others.

We develop fire and bushfire risk management measures with the relevant fire services and authorities. Depending on the site, these can include fuel breaks, a dedicated water supply, safe access for emergency vehicles, emergency response plans and training for staff. Fire risk is also assessed as part of the planning approval process, so the community and fire authorities can review and provide feedback on our plans.

The BESS equipment we use is tested and certified to international standards, including IEC 62619 (battery safety), IEC 62477-1 (power electronics safety), UL 9540 (energy storage system safety) and UL 1973 (batteries for stationary applications). It has also been tested to UL 9540A, the test method for thermal runaway fire propagation.

Our projects must meet the fire safety conditions of their planning approval, including a fire safety study and emergency response plan prepared with the local fire authority, and are designed with reference to relevant fire authority and industry guidance.

Each project has an emergency response plan, prepared with the local fire and emergency services, who are consulted during design and again before operations begin. We also give neighbours information on what to do and who to contact. In an emergency, always call 000.

End of life

What happens at the end of a project's operational life?

Solar farms and BESS typically operate for several decades. At the end of that time, we will decommission the site in a planned way, in line with the project’s approvals.

  • Solar farms: panels, inverters, wiring and framework are removed, and many components can be recycled or reused. The land can be returned to agriculture or used for other purposes.
  • BESS: battery systems are dismantled and components are recycled or reused where possible.

We work with landowners and relevant authorities to manage the site responsibly.

Contact us

Who can I contact if I have questions or feedback?

You can reach out to our team at community@acenergy.com.au.

Please email community@acenergy.com.au or call the project phone number on the project page.

Please include as much detail as you can, such as what happened, when and where, and what outcome you are looking for, so we can understand and address the issue.

If there is an emergency, call 000.

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