Overview
Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are a critical component of Australia’s clean energy transition, providing energy storage and load shifting to maximise the value of solar generation and ensure reliable supply during peak demand periods. As these large-scale facilities are increasingly developed in bushfire-prone areas, Cool Burn provides specialist bushfire planning and design services to ensure their safe integration into the energy landscape.
Challenge
BESS developments, often classified as State Significant Developments (SSD) in New South Wales, face unique challenges when proposed in bushfire-prone environments. The risks include not only the potential for bushfire impact on critical infrastructure, but also the possibility of the facility itself being a causal factor in a bushfire event. The challenge was to deliver robust, evidence-based bushfire assessments to inform approvals and guide risk-reduction strategies.
Solution
Cool Burn applies a tailored approach to bushfire risk management for BESS projects, including:
- Landscape risk assessments to evaluate site exposure and vulnerability.
- Vegetation classification and effective slope analysis to model potential bushfire behaviour.
- Fire behaviour modelling to determine likely exposure to flame contact, radiant heat, and ember attack.
- Identification of appropriate bushfire protection measures, including siting strategies, asset protection zones, and hazard reduction requirements.
- Preparation of bushfire assessments that meet NSW Government approval pathways for State Significant Developments.
Image: Bushfire landscape risk assessment and radiant heat contours.
Impact
Cool Burn’s assessments provide developers and regulators with a clear understanding of bushfire risks and the measures needed to mitigate them. This work ensures that BESS projects can proceed safely, protecting vital clean energy infrastructure while minimising the risk to surrounding communities and environments. By integrating bushfire resilience into project design, Cool Burn supports the safe expansion of renewable energy infrastructure across NSW.
