Draft application documents available for comment and feedback by Mon 1st December 2025
The following draft documents are now available for review. We are keen to receive your comment and feedback by Mon 1st December 2025.
Your feedback will be read, considered and included in the consultation summary that will be submitted to the Department as part of the assessment process.
Project Overview
Shift Energy is planning to build the Plains Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in the Rocky Plains area, within the Regional Council of Goyder and on the traditional lands of the Ngadjuri People.
The Plains BESS Project is a large-scale battery energy storage system designed to strengthen South Australia’s electricity network by storing renewable energy during periods of high generation and releasing it back into the grid when demand increases. This helps make South Australia’s energy system more reliable and supports our state’s clean energy future.
The proposed project site is located about 6 kilometres south-east of Robertstown on Rocky Plains Road. It will connect directly to the existing overhead powerlines — no new transmission line is required.
The development is proposed to occur in four stages, with a total combined capacity sufficient to support up to 300,000 homes:
- Stage 1: 250 MW / 2000 MWh – equivalent to supplying approximately 75,000 homes for 8 hours
- Stages 2–4: 3 × 250 MW / 1000 MWh – equivalent to supplying approximately 225,000 homes for 4 hours
The project will also include a substation to connect the battery safely to the existing electricity network.
More details about how the project will work are available in the Environmental Impact Report (EIR).
Approvals Application
The Plains BESS Project will be assessed under the Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Act 2023, which began operating in July 2024.
This new Act establishes a comprehensive assessment framework for renewable energy and associated infrastructure developments. It ensures that environmental, cultural, and social factors are properly considered and that approved projects are subject to ongoing regulatory oversight throughout construction, operation, and decommissioning.
The Department for Energy and Mining (DEM) is responsible for assessing the application and associated documentation, including the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and Statement of Environmental Objectives (SEO), which outline the potential environmental impacts and management measures for the project.
Regulatory Framework
The Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Act 2023, which came into effect in July 2024, has introduced a new regulatory system for the assessment and approval of renewable energy infrastructure in South Australia.
This Act replaces the Planning, Development and Infrastructure (PDI) Act as the assessment pathway for renewable energy projects such as battery energy storage systems, wind farms, and hydrogen developments. The PDI system continues to apply to all other forms of development.
Under the new system, Shift Energy must consult with the community and stakeholders on draft versions of its key application documents before lodging them formally.
These documents are:
- Environmental Impact Report (EIR): explains what environmental and community impacts might occur and how they will be managed.
- Statement of Environmental Objectives (SEO): outlines what environmental goals the project must meet and how its performance will be measured.
If the project is approved, the SEO becomes the set of licence conditions the project must follow during construction, operation, and decommissioning.
Community Consultation and Feedback
Have Your Say
Shift Energy invites community members, stakeholders, and interested parties to review the draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and Statement of Environmental Objectives (SEO) for the Plains BESS Project.
Your feedback is an important part of the assessment process and will help shape the final documents before they are formally submitted to DEM for assessment under the Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Act 2023.
You can review the draft EIR and SEO documents and share your comments with us by Monday, 1 December 2025.
Ways to provide feedback:
Email:
development@shiftenergy.com.au
To help us identify your message quickly, please include “Shift Energy Feedback” at the beginning of your email subject.
Post:
Suite 601, Level 6, 55 Grenfell Street, Adelaide SA 5000
All feedback will be considered and, where relevant, included in the final submission.
By working together, we can make sure the Plains BESS Project supports both the local community and South Australia’s clean energy future.