In a pivotal shift reshaping Australia’s renewable energy landscape, landowners in Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria are being offered up to $30,000 per annum to lease just 1 hectare of land for a 30-year term, as developers move aggressively to roll out 5MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects.

This strategic move reflects growing frustration with the complexities and red tape plaguing large-scale utility BESS developments. Traditionally sized at 100MW and above, these projects are increasingly delayed by lengthy Development Approval (DA) processes, community opposition, and planning system scrutiny—frequently stretching timelines to 4–5 years, often with no guaranteed outcome.

“Big battery projects are simply becoming too difficult to get over the line,” said Daniel Moroko, Founder of Rok Solid, Australia and New Zealand’s leading renewable energy land brokerage. 

“In contrast, 5MW BESS sites can be delivered in around 12 months from planning to grid connection. And landowners only need to commit 1 hectare.”

“This new model of smaller, distributed battery systems is gaining serious traction. Developers such as AMPYR Energy, Enervest, EDL Energy, and Atlas Renewables are just a few of the forward-thinking players pivoting to this scalable, low-resistance approach.”

“While large BESS projects can require upwards of 20 hectares—often resulting in significant land loss, planning contention, and disruption to agricultural operations—5MW BESS projects have a far smaller footprint, making them highly attractive to regional landholders.”

“With offers of $30,000 per year per hectare, this model provides long-term income without interrupting primary land use.”

“We’re actively placing 5MW battery projects across regional Australia, offering landowners attractive lease deals with minimal disruption,” added Moroko. 

“We see this as the future of Australia’s storage network—nimble, fast, and community-friendly.”

“With battery storage now a critical enabler of the National Electricity Market’s (NEM) clean energy transition, 5MW BESS developments are poised to play a leading role in solving Australia’s grid stability challenge—one hectare at a time.”

About Rok Solid

Rok Solid is Australia and New Zealand’s first and leading renewable energy land acquisition brokerage. The company specialises in connecting landholders with companies seeking to lease or purchase land for renewable energy projects, playing a crucial role in advancing the renewable energy sector in the region.