As Australia’s clean energy footprint continues to expand, managing bushfire risk is no longer a peripheral consideration – it is a core design, planning and operational requirement across the sector, from utility-scale solar farms and transmission lines through to rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) and household batteries.
The guiding principle is that the most effective way to reduce fire risk is to design it out from the start.
For large-scale projects, this approach is embedded in planning approvals in every state and territory. Developments are commonly assessed against the Country Fire Authority’s (CFA) Design Guidelines and Model Requirements for Renewable Energy Facilities, which have been adopted or referenced by multiple jurisdictions. These frameworks shape site layout, access roads, vegetation management, water storage, fire breaks and emergency response procedures.
Before construction even begins, proponents must assess local bushfire conditions, vegetation, topography and access constraints. Mitigation measures typically include dedicated emergency vehicle access, asset separation distances, defined fire breaks, on-site water supplies, controlled vegetation management and active monitoring regimes. Staff are trained in emergency response, and planning legislation requires consultation with state fire authorities to ensure local expertise is built into both design and operations.
From utility-scale to households
While much of the focus is on large assets, bushfire resilience also matters at the customer end of the network. This is where solar installers play a critical role.
During bushfire emergencies, authorities may instruct residents who are evacuating to switch off everything at the main switchboard, including solar and battery systems. The aim is to simplify conditions for emergency services and ensure firefighters can operate with confidence that buildings are de-energised, particularly when distribution networks are being shut down as a precaution.
However, SolarQuotes highlights that the situation is not always one-size-fits-all. Some households rely on battery systems to run fire pumps, communications equipment, lighting or security systems. In these cases, a properly configured battery system can provide reliable backup power, often more dependable than petrol or diesel generators.
For homes that are not evacuating, disconnecting from an unstable grid may make sense, but it also removes valuable distributed generation support. Aggregated rooftop solar is estimated to reduce overall demand by 15-18 per cent, helping stabilise the grid during extreme events. That said, heavy smoke or thick cloud can dramatically reduce solar output, effectively turning day into night.
If a home has a standard grid-connected solar system, it will automatically shut down if the grid is de-energised. One reason some owners may still choose to manually switch off their inverter and main switchboard is to protect equipment from damage in the event of a serious grid fault, such as high-voltage transmission accidentally energising distribution lines.
For battery owners, installers should ensure systems are correctly configured for backup operation and that customers understand how to isolate from the grid using the ‘Main Switch Normal Supply’ or equivalent. Testing should be as simple as switching off grid supply and confirming the house remains powered. And so, for solar installers, that makes customer education and correct system configuration just as important as what happens beyond the fence line.
On the transmission side, high-voltage infrastructure is widely recognised as posing a very low fire ignition risk, thanks to large clearance distances, strict vegetation management and protection systems that automatically isolate faults. Grid operators can also remotely shut down lines in extreme conditions.
In Victoria, Country Fire Authority brigades have already conducted live training exercises at operating solar farms, helping build real-world familiarity with renewable energy sites.
To learn more about how to minimise bushfire risks in renewable energy, visit the Clean Energy Council website.