Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Birdwood Energy?
Birdwood Energy is a specialist Australian investor in the energy sector with a $2 billion investment portfolio of generation and storage projects across Australia and Europe in development, construction and operation.
The Birdwood team works closely with local developers and project landowners to deliver projects which bring value to communities in which their projects are located.
Birdwood is comprised of energy professionals with an investment focus on engineering, finance and operational expertise focused on finding appropriate sites to host regional energy projects.
Birdwood is committed to respectfully engaging with the communities in which they plan and operate projects, to be sensitive to environmental and cultural values and to make a positive contribution to people’s lives.
What is the Baranduda Energy Reserve?
The Baranduda Energy Reserve is a proposal seeking to extend the existing electricity terminal station in Baranduda to upgrade its infrastructure and connect a battery energy storage system (BESS) to support the Victorian and National electricity grid.
The Proposal, representing an investment of greater than $500m, comprises a 400 MW/1800 MWh BESS, control room and substation, as well as associated connection infrastructure at the Terminal Station for the 330 kV transmission network.
What is a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)?
A BESS is a technology that stores electricity in batteries for later use. It helps balance energy supply and demand, supports grid stability, and stores energy from a variety of energy sources, including renewable sources.
This BESS will include battery and inverter containers, fencing, roads, hardstands, a control building and substation. The battery cells are housed in 20’ shipping containers.
What does MW and MWh mean?
MW is an abbreviation for megawatts. It is the measurement of the rated power capacity of a BESS, being the total possible discharge capability starting from a fully charged state.
MWh is an abbreviation for megawatt-hours and is how the storage duration of a BESS is measured. It is the amount of energy can be discharged.
The Baranduda Energy Reserve seeks to install a 400 MW BESS with 1800 MWh of usable energy capacity. It will be able to offer a storage duration of over 4 hours.
Why was the industrial estate in Baranduda Drive selected for the proposed BESS?
The proposed location is within the existing and developing industrial estate in Baranduda Drive, amongst manufacturing businesses. It is also close to the old cattle saleyards, Bandiana Fire Station, a plant nursery, and Department of Defence land. The industrial site is well suited for a BESS due to its location next to the Wodonga Terminal Station in an established industrial area that is buffered from residential areas. This co-location facilitates efficient integration into the grid and reduces the need for extensive new transmission lines.
The industrial area is ideal due to its proximity to existing electricity infrastructure, flat topographic conditions, and minimal impact on residential and agricultural land.
The BESS site is proposed to occupy approximately 17 hectares in the industrially zoned northwest corner of the site.
What are the benefits of having the BESS in this location?
Benefits of locating the Baranduda Energy Reserve in the industrial estate include:
- Reducing impacts by situating the BESS on industrial land and next to a substation, away from residential areas.
- Reducing overall power prices by storing electricity to be used when there is a shortfall in supply, particularly from rooftop solar (e.g. early evening and nighttime).
- Investing in infrastructure that will provide energy stability for nearby and wider industry.
- Using local contractors during both construction and operation (for example earthworks, cranage, fencing, electrical, security, landscaping, civil, concreting and site services), along with local component suppliers.
- Diversifying the North East economy with new local job opportunities.
- A works area that is flat, already cleared of native vegetation, and not in a Bushfire Management Overlay or Significant Landscape Overlay.
- Reducing impacts on agriculture by locating it away from recognised agricultural areas or productive land.
- Contributing to Victoria’s energy storage targets of at least 2.6 GW by 2030 and 6.3 GW by 2035.
How far is the Baranduda Energy Reserve from residential zones?
Being located in an industrial estate, the site is well buffered from residential zoned land, meaning it is located a considerable distance away from existing and future dwellings. This will help minimise any potential impact on surrounding residents. The industrial estate is expected to be developed around the BESS in the future.
The closest dwelling to the proposal is around 800m away, across Kiewa Valley Highway.
Are there any significant landscape values or vegetation in the proposed area?
The project team have undertaken feasibility studies to inform the site’s potential to host a BESS. The studies that have informed this process and early discussions with referral authorities influenced the design of the proposal and planning permit application.
Early assessments have indicated the site has minimal existing native vegetation and no significant species. This means that the proposed development will have a limited impact on local flora and fauna. Importantly, no River Red Gums, which the area is known for, will be removed.
The proposed site, within an industrial zone, does not have significant landscape values or represent significant agricultural land. This ensures that the project will not impact important landscapes or natural settings. The Baranduda Energy Reserve will be screened from view with fencing and landscape screening around the perimeter of the infrastructure, including from Kiewa Valley Highway. Its location immediately next to an existing substation means it does not represent an intrusion on an undeveloped, rural landscape and does not require transmission lines outside the project area.
Will there be any noise?
The design and layout of the project has been undertaken in accordance with extensive modelling from noise impact assessments to minimise effects for surrounding properties. The noise assessment demonstrates that noise will comply with the relevant standard. Further, it is expected that if a planning permit was to be issued, a condition would be added requiring further noise assessments and ongoing monitoring.
Given its location in an industrial area and distant from residential zones, any noise impacts on dwellings from the project is expected to be minimal.
How will the Baranduda Energy Reserve impact the local community?
The Baranduda Energy Reserve is designed to have minimal impact on the Baranduda community due to its location in an industrial area and distance from residential zones. The project aims to store and release energy to complement household rooftop solar, and help stabilise the electricity grid and reduce power prices, benefiting local residents, businesses and industry in North East Victoria, Southern New South Wales and beyond.
The project team is available to discuss any concerns residents or local businesses have about the project via consultation@cogencyaustralia.com.au
Are there any plans for community engagement?
As part of a detailed engagement strategy, Birdwood seeks to meet with neighbours, Baranduda residents and interested groups to explain the proposal and receive feedback on the concept design.
The aim is to ensure there is access to information about the proposal, address concerns as they arise, and ensure transparency throughout the planning application phase.
During the formal advertisement period, Birdwood will also host a drop-in information session and contact surrounding landowners to discuss the proposal.
The public will have an opportunity to make submissions about the Proposal and have those submissions considered by State Government. Wodonga Council has been consulted and can also make a submission.
Birdwood welcomes direct feedback and is open to discuss the project with the local community at any point.
What are the next steps for the Baranduda Energy Reserve proposal?
The next steps include obtaining necessary planning approvals, completing detailed design and planning, and commencing construction. The project will follow all regulatory requirements and engage with neighbours and other stakeholders throughout the process.
A planning permit from the Victorian Minister for Planning will be required for the project to proceed, along with other regulatory requirements.
How will the project be monitored and managed safely following construction?
Should the proposal receive a planning permit and be constructed, the Baranduda Energy Reserve will be monitored and managed by a dedicated and full-time operations team, ensuring compliance with environmental regulations, safety standards, and operational efficiency. Its operation will be subject to dozens of conditions on the planning permit, assisting in minimising risks in relation to fire, noise, hydrology, flora and fauna and cultural heritage.
Safety measures include rigorous site design, regular maintenance, and adherence to industry standards for battery storage and fire safety.
Is there a fire risk?
The location, within an industrial zone, and not close to areas of high fire risk, such as large bushland areas or state parks, means that the risk of bushfire is low. Most of the surrounding land is paved, developed for a substation or industrial buildings, or managed grassed. The project is also not within a designated Bushfire Management Overlay (BMO), and is located very close to the Bandiana Fire Station (700m).
The BESS itself features in built fire detection and suppression measures to reduce the risk of fire being generated by the project.
The concept design for the BESS follows detailed guidelines that have been established by the Country Fire Authority (CFA) to mitigate and manage fire risk, and the project includes perimeter fire breaks and numerous water tanks. The CFA have been consulted as part of the planning application, and after considering the documentation, have supported the proposal subject to conditions, including a detailed fire risk assessment. This will be prepared and needs to be approved by the CFA. Those conditions will be applied to the planning permit and must be complied with at all times by the operator.
What kind of jobs will the project create during construction and operation?
The project team is committed to ensuring the community benefits from the construction of the Baranduda Energy Reserve by diversifying the regional economy with new local job opportunities.
We seek to use local contractors during both construction and operation, including civil, earthworks, concreting, gravel, haulage, cranage, fencing, landscaping, security, electrical and site services.
If you are interested in providing goods and services to the proposed Baranduda Energy Reserve, please register your interest via consultation@cogencyaustralia.com.au.
How will people be kept informed about the Project?
To learn more about the proposal, share your thoughts or attend the forthcoming drop-in session, please keep an eye on this website or contact us via the form.