Community Benefits Program

At South Energy, we deeply appreciate the support of the Inverell community and are committed to giving back through our Community Investment Program. This initiative aims to assist local groups, organisations, and individual projects that provide meaningful benefits to the people of Inverell.

Once the Inverell BESS Project is operational, a designated portion of its annual revenue will be set aside to fund community initiatives—reflecting South Energy’s long-term dedication to the region. Wherever possible, the fund will be managed in collaboration with local representatives to ensure it directly supports community needs.

Additional details about the program will be shared as the project moves forward.

Employment Opportunities

The construction of a BESS project is a huge undertaking and will require hundreds of workers performing various jobs across multiple stages of its construction. Some of the fields include:

  • Civil works
  • Mechanical installation works
  • Electrical works
  • Fencing and landscaping
  • Transportation, and more.

The project will take around 12-16 months of full-time construction. Once it is complete, it’s estimated that there will be up to four permanent, full-time positions available to ensure optimal and efficient operation of the BESS project.

Business Opportunities

With the influx of contractors and other workers, Inverell and nearby regions (Tingha, Armidale) will see opportunities for commercial expansion. There will be a greater necessity for an ongoing workforce and new businesses to be opened to satisfy the increased population demand during the development, construction and operational phases of the BESS project. Some of the businesses may include, but are not limited to:

  • Accommodation
  • Eateries
  • Grocery stores
  • Petrol stations
  • Tool and equipment suppliers
  • Vehicle service stations
  • Transportation, and many more.

The local community may also see an increase in tourism from visitors who are interested in seeing the new battery project. Due to the addition of the proposed battery project, environmentalists, researchers and even educational school tours are likely to visit the township of Inverell, creating a solid stream of tourism and growth for the entire region.

Relevant Policy

The Australian Government is dedicated and committed to moving towards a sustainable future and a national target for renewable energy generation of 40% and net zero have been set to be reached respectively by 2030 and 2050. The NSW Government is committed to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 and has released their Net Zero Plan for the period 2020-2030. Other projects and further infrastructure development in the Electricity Network are also focused on ensuring consumer expectations are addressed for reliable, secure and affordable energy. Hence, the new BESS project at Inverell will go a long way in aiding both the state and the nation in reaching their targets.

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