11 APRIL 2025

RESPONSIBLE BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT 2025

Powering a Safe, Responsible and Sustainable Future!

SUMMIT OVERVIEW

As the global transition to renewable energy accelerates, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) have become essential for enhancing grid reliability and managing intermittent energy sources. However, the rapid growth of the BESS sector brings significant responsibilities related to safety, sustainability, and local community acceptance.

The Responsible Battery Energy Storage Development Summit is a one-day national event that brings together industry experts, community leaders, developers, asset owners, regulators, battery manufactures, construction EPCs, grid operators, and more to address these critical challenges. The summit will cover best practices for developing BESS systems that prioritise safety and responsible management of impact, while showcasing technology and strategies to manage noise and fire impact.

This Sydney-based first of its kind event offers the perfect platform for industry professionals to gain invaluable insights, participate in engaging discussions, and network with peers—all while exploring solutions for making BESS safer and more sustainable.

KEY TOPICS INCLUDE

Responsible BESS Development

Best practices for site selection, design and development with ‘good neighbour’ and safety outcomes at the forefront.

C&I and Community BESS

Income opportunities, optimisation and feasibility, detailed design, grid connection constraints and lessons learned for C&I and Community BESS in the built environment.

Noise Management

Technological and design innovations to reduce noise issues from BESS operations. Best practice noise assessment, mitigation methodologies and case studies.

Planning System and Community Engagement

Case studies and examples of responsible siting leading to efficient planning approvals, and insights from state government planning managers as well as community leaders.

Battery Fire Safety

Comprehensive strategies for reducing risk of battery fires and creating effective emergency response plans.

Expert Panel Discussions

Gain invaluable insights, participate in engaging discussions, and network with peers.

AGENDA:

Registration and Coffee

08:30am - 09:00am

Opening Remarks

Welcome to Country

09:00am - 09:20am

BESS Industry responsibilities for Energy Transition

Demian Natakhan - Enhar

Binowee Bayles

Opening Keynote

09:20am - 09:30am

BESS Industry leadership for the Energy Revolution

John Grimes - Smart Energy Council

Panel Discussion One

09:30am - 10:15am

Ensuring Responsible BESS Development:

Ramping up while developing responsibly in the Australian BESS industry

CHAIR: David Leitch - ITK Services

Matt Baumgurtel - Hamilton Locke

Ronch Willner - Valent Energy

Iwan Davies - NSW Dept of Planning & Environment

Andrew Bray - RE-Alliance

Session One

10:15am - 11:00am

Battery Fire Safety:

Prevention and Emergency Response Planning

Matthew Allen - Country Fire Authority (CFA)

Javier Piedrahita - NJM Design

Ali Asadi - Wärtsilä Energy Storage & Optimisation

Panel Discussion Two

11:00am - 11:30am

BESS Fire Safety Panel Discussion:
Latest guidelines at national and state level and practical experience from project implementers

CHAIR: Matthew Allen - Country Fire Authority (CFA)

Michael Beecroft - Queensland Fire Department

James Hansen - Fire Rescue Victoria.

Ali Asadi - Wärtsilä Energy Storage & Optimisation
Javier Piedrahita - NJM Design

Tea Break and Sponsor Networking

11:30am - 12:00pm

Session Two

12:00pm - 12:45pm

Noise Management for BESS projects:
Holistic approach from technology design to site selection to mitigation and monitoring

CHAIR: Demian Natakhan - Enhar

Alex Stoker - Marshall Day Acoustics

Daniel Jurcola - e-STORAGE (a subsidiary of Canadian Solar),

David O'Donoghue - Power Electronics

Panel Discussion Three

12:45pm - 01:30pm

BESS Noise Management:
Perspectives from manufacturers, project developers, planning authorities and regulators

CHAIR: Alex Stoker - Marshall Day Acoustics

Daniel Jurcola - e-STORAGE (a subsidiary of Canadian Solar),

David O'Donoghue - Power Electronics
Michael Juttner - Department of Transport (Victoria)

Jonathan Song - Environment Protection Agency (EPA)

Lunch Break and Sponsor Networking

01:30pm - 02:30pm

Parallel Track in the
Wangari Room

02:30pm - 04:30pm

Parallel Track: C&I & Community BESS Session:
Commercial Battery Engineering and Grid Approvals
Technical Lessons Learned – C&I and Community BESS

Case studies of C&I BESS projects for optimised performance and revenue

BESS Revenue and Optimisation

Roger Mansfield - Enhar

Ian Foster - Enhar

Oliver Barnes - Evo Power

Andrew Reddaway - Enhar

Panel Discussion Four

02:30pm - 03:30pm

Community Engagement, First Nations and Social License to Operate:
Ensuring Long-Term Success by Building Trust and Collaboration

CHAIR: Simone Maus - Collective Insight

Courtney Paulson - AGL

Margaret Harvie - PlanCom Consulting
Sabiene Heindl - The Energy Charter
Andrew Bray - Re-Alliance

Session Three

03:30pm - 04:30pm

Planning approvals for responsible project success:
State government lessons learned

CHAIR: Demian Natakhan - Enhar
Michael Juttner - Department of Transport
Jarrod Spencer - Department for Energy and Mining - Energy Resources Division (SA)

Iwan Davies - NSW Dept of Planning & Environment

Closing Address and Key Takeaways

04:30pm - 04:45pm

Advancing Responsible BESS Development:

The Path Forward for a Responsible Community of Practice

Demian Natakhan - Enhar

Networking & Event Close

04:45pm - 06:00pm

MEET THE LEADING PRESENTERS & PANELISTS

DEMIAN NATAKHAN

Director & Head of Utility Services

Enhar

JOHN GRIMES

Chief Executive
Smart Energy Council

BINOWEE BAYLES

Advocate for collaboration and shared wisdom

ALEX STOKER

Energy Sector Lead (AUS)

Marshall Day Acoustics

MARGARET HARVIE

Director of Community Engagement

PlanCom Consulting

IWAN DAVIES

Director, Energy Assessments

NSW Dept of Planning & Environment

SIMONE MAUS

Making Collaboration Work

Collective Insight

MICHAEL JUTTNER

Manager, Renewables (Victoria)

Department of Transport

JARROD SPENCER

Manager – Environmental Regulation (Energy)

Department for Energy and Mining - Energy Resources Division (SA)

JAVIER PIEDRAHITA

Fire Safety Manager

NJM Design

SABIENE HEINDL

Chief Executive Officer

The Energy Charter

ANDREW BRAY

National Director

RE-Alliance

ALI ASADI

System Engineer, Project Delivery, Middle East & Asia

Wärtsilä Energy Storage & Optimisation

IAN FOSTER

NSW Regional Manager

Enhar

ROGER MANSFIELD

Technical Director - Commercial

Enhar

MATTHEW ALLEN

Specialist Risk and Fire Safety Manager

Country Fire Authority (CFA)

MICHAEL BEECROFT

Fire Engineer
Complex Infrastructure Section, Queensland Fire Department.

JAMIE HANSEN

Assistant Chief Fire Officer

Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV)

DANIEL JURCOLA

Director of Project Engineering, APAC

e-STORAGE

(a subsidiary of Canadian Solar),

COURTNEY PAULSEN

First Nations Engagement

Manager

AGL

OLIVER BARNES

National Business

Development Manager

EVO Power

DAVID LEITCH

Principal

ITK Services Australia

RONCH WILLNER

Head of Development

Valent Energy

DAVID O'DONOGHUE

Managing Director

Power Electronics Australia

MATT BAUMGURTEL

Partner | New Energy Lead

Hamilton Locke

JONATHAN SONG

Noise Adviser

Environment Protection Agency (EPA)

SPONSORS AND PARTNERS

The Responsible BESS Summit will be held the day after the Smart Energy Council Conference and Exhibition (9-10 April 2025), which attracted 12,000 visitors last year. As a proud Smart Energy Council member, Enhar is will be attending their Conference and Expo and is collaborating with the Smart Energy Council team on our BESS Summit to ensure great value for visitors through the week.