Sites with augmented grid power supply and storage infrastructure are being constructed in Queensland, including battery storage facilities, solar farms and wind farms.
The rapid advancement of renewable energy technology means that these sites present unique hazards for fire service response, such as live electricity, stranded energy and unique battery chemistry behaviour that challenges conventional firefighting approaches. As a result, considerable risks are presented to firefighters who respond to this type of infrastructure during emergency incidents.
In 2025, the Queensland Government made changes to the Planning Regulation 2017 impacting how renewable energy developments are assessed in the land use planning framework. The changes apply to solar farms (with an output of 1 megawatt or over), wind farms and battery storage facilities. These are now ‘impact assessable’ and the State Assessment Referral Agency (SARA), is the ‘assessment manager’. Information on changes to the planning framework can be found at Renewable energy | Planning. The State codes and planning guidelines for wind farms (State code 23), solar farms (State code 26) and battery storage facilities (State code 27) can be found at State Development Assessment Provisions | Planning.
As an Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authority Council (AFAC) member, our department has collaborated with stakeholders nationally and internationally to assist with the development of national guidelines relating to the design, operation and modification of this type of infrastructure.
Our department is developing guidance specific to Queensland, which is scheduled for release in 2026.
Meanwhile, you can find the links to the AFAC guidelines relevant to battery storage facilities and solar farms below:
- Large-scale battery energy storage system installations
- Battery Energy Storage Systems Commercial and Industrial Installations
- Utility PV Array Installations
We advocate a holistic approach to fire and emergency risk management for such sites.
Our department can provide site-specific advice and support with regards to the proposed design of a battery storage facility, solar farm or wind farm. This advice relates to the safety and protection of the community, environment and responding firefighters.
Proponents may engage with our department directly, during early planning and detailed design phases, prior to engaging with the SARA under the provisions of the Planning Regulations 2017. Proponents are additionally recommended to engage directly with our department during pre-operational, commissioning and operational phases.
If you wish to engage with us regarding your battery storage facility, solar farm or wind farm, please email your enquiry to CIS@fire.qld.gov.au. The team will then contact you at our earliest convenience.
If a renewable energy development is in a bushfire prone area, proponents must consider bushfire hazard and mitigation. For information on bushfire hazard and mitigation, please visit the Bushfire Resilient Communities webpage, or email directly BRC@fire.qld.gov.au.
Renewable Energies Forms
Request for pre-lodgement meeting
Use this form to request a meeting with us about your renewable energy premises.
CSO-094 Request for QFD preliminary engagement (DOCX, 372 KB)
Request for QFD visit
Use this form to request QFD to conduct a visit to your premises. There are two types of visits relevant to renewable energy premises as explained below:
CSO-095 Request for QFD visit (DOCX, 370 KB)
Site visit
A site visit is for members of the Complex Infrastructure Section to attend the premises and provide clarity in relation to fire fighting intervention capability based on what fire safety installations are available.
Fire crew familiarisation visit
A fire crew familiarisation visit involves the attendance of your local fire crews to understand site-specific information vital to providing the correct response approach in case of an emergency. Ideally, this visit should occur prior to commissioning.