September 13th, 2023New renewable energy guidelines out for firies

The latest CFA Design Guidelines and Model Requirements for Renewable Energy Facilities have been released.

CFA’s guideline provides fire risk management and emergency planning guidance and support for planners, designers and operators of wind energy facilities, large-scale solar and battery energy storage facilities in the country area of Victoria.

CFA’s guideline complements existing Victorian government guidance for renewable energy facilities.

It details CFA’s minimum expectations for fire risk management in planning, design and operation specific to facility siting, emergency access, water supply, vegetation management and emergency planning.

CFA’s guideline is underpinned by the operational knowledge gained from fires at large-scale renewable energy facilities, engaging with leading national and international researchers and industry, and CFA’s unique experience in assessing and advising on fire risk management for hundreds of renewable energy developments across the country area of Victoria.

The latest, Version 4 of CFA’s guideline includes:

• Updated guidance for decentralised arrangements of battery energy storage systems.
• Additional guidance on fire risk management and emergency planning for battery energy storage systems in commercial and industrial applications and community/neighbourhood batteries.
• Expanded guidance on emergency response considerations for large-scale battery energy storage systems.
• A checklist to support application of the guideline.

CFA leads the sector in fire risk management guidance for renewable energy facilities.

CFA’s updated guideline reflects the latest strategies for incident response as changes in technology, increases in energy density and evolving facility designs pose challenges for responding emergency services.

To see the updated guidelines, visit https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/plan-prepare/building-planning-regulations/renewable-energy-fire-safety.

Please contact CFA’s Specialist Risk and Fire Safety Unit at risk-info@cfa.vic.gov.au for any information regarding the CFA guidelines or fire risk management at renewable energy facilities and proposed developments.