South Energy plans 100-megawatt battery project for Victoria’s Macedon Ranges


A private developer plans to build a large-scale battery energy storage facility on bushfire-prone land in the central Victorian town of Macedon.

South Energy will lodge plans next month for the Macedon Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project — a 100-megawatt system featuring 128 lithium-ion battery containers on a five-hectare site along Black Forest Drive, about 3.5 kilometres from the township.

The project is also adjacent to the busy Calder Freeway.

The facility would store surplus electricity from the grid and feed it back during peak demand, with capacity to power about 35,000 homes for up to four hours.

Rob Mitchell with Linh Nguyen and Johan Laban during a site visit in October. (Supplied/Facebook)

High fire danger area

Macedon Country Fire Authority (CFA) life member Peter Shaw said he was “not convinced” by the project’s proposed location.

“Macedon Ranges is one of the highest fire danger areas in Australia,” he said.

“One of the biggest problems with lithium-iron batteries, is that you can get thermal runaway, which means that the fire can self-perpetuate, until it runs out of fuel, it can be extremely hard to extinguish.

“I can’t understand why you’d put a substation at the entrance to a fairly major tourism area, and add to that a battery farm.”

Mr Shaw said there were more suitable locations around the region.

“There’s enough industrial land in more appropriate locations around Gisborne, Woodend or Kyneton,” he said.

The 5-hectare site is between Black Forest Rd and the Calder Freeway, south of Macedon. (Supplied/Facebook)

Stephen Pepper, the leader of the Macedon Ranges Renewable Energy Action Group, said concerns of a fire hazard were “a little bit of a furphy”.

“It will be between two roads, so it will be very easy to isolate any possible fire, but the chances of fire are actually very remote,” he said.

Assuming the company would use the BESS for arbitrage — buying energy when prices are low and selling when prices are high — Mr Pepper said it would be a “very good thing”.

“This will in itself equalise the grid,” he said.

According to South Energy’s website, a community drop-in session was held in Macedon on October 9.

The website said concerns raised over fire risk, visual impacts and potential reduction of property values would be addressed in the development application report.

But Mr Shaw said there had been little community consultation.

“When I became aware of it, I found out none of the local CFA captains in the area were aware of it,” he said.

An aerial view of the proposed battery project. (Supplied: Google Maps/South Energy)

Waiting game

The Victorian government has shifted responsibility for approving large-scale renewable energy projects away from local councils.

Under the new rules, developments generating more than one megawatt will now be assessed by the minister for planning through the state’s Development Facilitation Program, aimed at speeding up the approvals process.

Decisions made under the program cannot be challenged at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).

“I can’t see it being stopped,” Mr Shaw said.

“I’m just hopeful there’s a sufficiently appropriate fire management plan so if something does happen, brigades have the appropriate resources to address it.”

The project also has the support of McEwen federal Labor MP Rob Mitchell, who toured the proposed site with South Energy representatives last week.

Macedon Ranges Shire Council director of planning and environment Rebecca Stockfeld said council staff had received a briefing from the Macedon BESS project team.

She said it was likely the application would be assessed and determined by the planning minister, but the council would review the proposal if it was invited to provide feedback during that process.

“As council would not be the responsible authority, it is not in a position to comment on the project’s suitability or potential site-specific impacts, including bushfire risk,” Ms Stockfeld said.

According to South Energy’s website, construction is expected to begin in early 2027 and be operational by the second quarter of 2028.

South Energy declined to comment ahead of submitting its development application next month.

A Victorian government spokesperson said any application would be considered based on merit.

“Any proposal submitted through the Development Facilitation Program is considered on its merits and relevant agencies — including councils and the CFA — are consulted as part of this process,” the spokesperson said.

“Community members are also invited to have their say. All submissions will be considered as part of any decision made.”


Source

Visited 1 times, 1 visit(s) today

Recommended For You

Avatar photo

About the Author: News Hound