Narrabri Community Battery Project Halted Amid Safety Concerns
The Narrabri community battery project in New South Wales was halted after a local council meeting, reportedly due to the spread of misinformation regarding lithium-ion battery safety.
The project, funded by the federal government and driven by the community group Geni Energy, aimed to store excess solar energy and feed it back into the grid, supporting the transition to renewable energy.
Project Background and Goals
The 500kWh battery received half a million dollars in federal funding and initially had the Narrabri Shire Council's backing. The council had identified a car park site for installation, with plans to create a renewable energy hub. Geni Energy, founded by Sally Hunter, intended for any profits from electricity sales to fund other local renewable projects.
Council Meeting Raises Safety Red Flags
In March 2025, a council meeting featured presentations on lithium-ion battery risks. Superintendent Tom Cooper of Fire and Rescue NSW explained the dangers associated with thermal runaway in lithium-ion batteries, using examples like e-scooter and electric drill explosions.
The head of the local emergency management committee (LEMC), Inspector Robert Dunn, also presented concerns. Despite council reports deeming the project low risk, Inspector Robert Dunn requested intervention for adequate safeguards and recommended relocation, despite no record of the referenced "Consequence Management Guide (CMG)" document.
Misinformation vs. Expert Reassurance
Concerns arose from comparisons to e-scooter fires.
Fire safety engineer Ian Moore stated that community battery units are tested to international standards, making their risk significantly lower than e-scooters or even internal combustion engine cars.
He noted community batteries include advanced safety features like heat detectors, automatic shutdown, and suppression systems. Moore also highlighted that the two previous Australian Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) fires involved much larger units and resulted in no injuries.
Despite this, claims circulated that the Narrabri battery would burn for seven days, require large exclusion zones, and offer no community benefit, all of which were inaccurate.
Council Withdraws Support
A change in council following an October 2024 election led to a rescission motion in April, brought by Councillor Amanda Brown, to delay the project for further review. Despite a majority of community feedback supporting the battery, the motion passed, resulting in the three-year planning process being suspended.
Attempts to find alternative council land proved unsuccessful. In October, the council officially withdrew its support, with Councillor Jocellin Jansson reiterating claims about the battery's fire risks and disputing community benefits during her speech.
Conflicting Views on Engagement and Misinformation
Narrabri Mayor Darrell Tiemens attributed the project's failure to a "lack of information" and a failure to "take the community along for a journey," arguing that public concern about lithium batteries was not misinformation. He also placed blame on Geni Energy for insufficient community engagement.
Sally Hunter of Geni Energy refuted this, detailing extensive community engagement activities, including a federally approved plan, school activities, and public events.
The Narrabri Shire Council's submission to a NSW state government inquiry acknowledged "a significant amount of misinformation and disinformation" regarding renewable technologies, contributing to "a climate of fear."
Community engagement consultant Margaret Harvie noted increased polarization in discussions around renewables, with activists potentially exacerbating fears. The battery now remains in storage, with Geni Energy volunteers hoping to find a new location on private land.