Hello,

We’d like to share an update on the proposed Inverell Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), planned for a site approximately 5 km east of the Inverell town centre, across Fisher Road from the existing Transgrid 132kV Substation, south of the Gwydir Highway.

In this update, we outline the Project’s development progress, the next steps in the NSW State Significant Development (SSD) application process, how you can continue to engage with us, and how electricity storage supports Australia’s national energy security.

What is in this update:

• Project overview
• Project update
• What’s next
• EIS community engagement plan
• Energy storage and security
• How to stay in touch

The Project

South Energy is proposing the development of the Inverell BESS. The Project involves the construction, operation and eventual decommissioning of a battery with a capacity of up to approximately 150MW / 1200MWh (8 hours).

A BESS of this scale could provide continuous power to around 52,500 homes and would supply electricity directly into the National Electricity Market (NEM).

Based on the Project’s scale and capital investment value, it is being assessed under the NSW State Significant Development (SSD) planning pathway, with the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) as the consent authority responsible for determining whether the Project is approved or refused.

Project update

Following our last correspondence in December 2025, where we advised that the NSW Planning Secretary had issued the Project’s Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs), the Project has now progressed to the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

For a quick refresher on the information previously shared, please click the link below to visit the Project website.

(Inverell BESS Update – SEARs issued – Inverell Battery Energy Storage System)

So far in 2026, South Energy has engaged a noise and system design specialist to start early investigations and design the preliminary layout for the Project infrastructure. This layout will continue to be revised and reviewed by specialists during the EIS phase, ensuring that all requirements by the SEARs are fully addressed and reflected.

The EIS is the primary assessment document for State Significant Development (SSD) projects like the Inverell BESS. The Project is currently in the EIS preparation stage, which is step four of the nine-step development application process.

Please see the NSW SSD project timeline graphic below, including anticipated milestone dates:

We recognise that the technical language used in NSW planning legislation can sometimes be complex and difficult to navigate. Our aim is to communicate consistently and clearly, making the SSD process as accessible and easy to understand as possible, so you feel informed and confident to engage with us throughout the process.

What’s next: The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

The EIS is a detailed assessment that examines the potential environmental, social, and economic impacts of the Project while also identifying measures to avoid, minimise or manage these impacts.

The EIS allows us to fully assess the merits of the Project while engaging with the surrounding communities to better understand issues, shape the Project and inform opportunities to share Project benefits locally. The EIS assessments have commenced and will continue over the coming months. The EIS will include specialist impact assessment reports, such as:

• Visual impact
• Noise
• Biodiversity
• Heritage
• Hydrology
• Traffic and transport
• Social & economic impact
• Bushfire & Hazards
• Water & Soils

South Energy aims to submit the EIS report to the DPHI in mid to late-2026. Community and stakeholder engagement over the coming months will be summarised within the EIS, along with the outcomes of the specialist reports outlined above.

Once the EIS is submitted, it will be placed on public exhibition for a minimum of 28 days. During this time, the community and government agencies will be invited to provide feedback on the Project. The Project team will then respond to any issues, comments or concerns raised by the community and key stakeholders via a Submissions Report. DPHI will then make a recommendation on whether the Project should be approved.

EIS Community engagement

We would like to reiterate that your feedback is important to us. It plays a key role in shaping the Project, informing environmental and technical assessments, and identifying potential community initiatives the Project could support. South Energy is committed to ensuring the local community has meaningful opportunities to participate and provide input, and we look forward to engaging with you during this next phase of the Project.

The Project team will commence the community engagement program during the EIS preparation phase, incorporating learnings from the earlier Scoping phase. This will include:

• Community engagement activities in the local area
• Near-neighbour meetings (by request) to discuss specific Project matters
• Presentations to key stakeholder groups, including Inverell Shire Council and Members of Parliament
• Engagement with local media to share Project updates and opportunities to get involved
• A community feedback survey
• Ongoing monitoring of the dedicated Project enquiry inbox (info@inverellbess.com.au)
• Social Impact Assessment (SIA) research, including targeted interviews to explore potential impacts and opportunities.

EIS assessment studies are currently underway, and in order to provide the community with information in addition to what was shared during the Scoping phase, the next round of Inverell community engagement activities are likely to be in mid-2026. We will be providing further detail and notice of this over the coming months, as Project EIS assessments progress.

Energy storage and Australia’s energy security

We recognise that renewable energy, battery storage, and the Project raise important questions for the community. At the same time, it is becoming increasingly clear that Australia needs stronger energy security as electricity demand grows and the energy system transitions from traditional fossil fuels to renewable sources such as solar and wind, supported by battery storage.

Recent global events have highlighted the vulnerability of traditional energy sources to international supply disruptions. Rising oil prices and increasing uptake of electric vehicles are also contributing to greater demand for reliable, readily available electricity. In response, there is a growing focus on building more resilient and future-ready energy systems.

Renewable energy, supported by decentralised battery storage systems like the Inverell BESS, can help strengthen energy security by enabling power to be generated, stored, and used more efficiently across the network. As older coal-fired power stations retire and fuel and gas prices fluctuate, alternative energy sources are becoming increasingly important to maintaining a reliable and affordable electricity supply. This direction of electrical system planning is well-reflected in Australia Energy Market Operation (AEMO)’s annual Integrated System Plan (ISP). Please see the latest Draft ISP 2026 here.

Australia’s abundant solar and wind resources present opportunities to support regional jobs, local businesses, and broader economic growth. While there are understandably different views on how best to achieve this transition, there is a shared goal of delivering a more secure, reliable, and resilient energy future for Australia and its communities.

Stay in touch

We thank you for your engagement throughout this process. If you have any questions about the Project, feedback on the information provided, or suggestions on how we can better engage with the community in the coming months, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

To contact our team:

Phone: +61 3 8842 6888

Email: info@inverellbess.com.au

Website: https://inverellbess.com.au/

Kind regards,

The Inverell BESS Project Team | South Energy

If you would no longer like to receive information from South Energy about the Project, please notify our team at info@inverellbess.com.au