Marie Cullen, head of procurement at Fluence Australia, explains how social licensing could become a key component for the future of energy storage developments.
As Australia continues to expand its clean energy infrastructure, one thing is becoming clear: the energy transition is not just about advancing technology. It’s also about people.
Energy storage is central to decarbonising electricity systems, but large-scale infrastructure projects must also earn their place within local communities. Achieving this requires more than consultation. It calls for genuine collaboration, where economic opportunity, cultural respect, and environmental stewardship go hand in hand.
Social licensing is a shared responsibility between developers, contractors, and communities that defines the long-term success of renewable energy projects as much as technical performance does. Beyond compliance, it’s a commitment to long-term partnership and trust, ensuring that shared value and opportunities are created for the communities that host energy storage projects.
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Navigating the realities of community engagement
In many regions, gaining social license isn’t straightforward. Communities hosting new battery storage projects often feel left out of the benefits of the energy transition, and those who have had several projects in the same area can face consultation fatigue.
Engaging early and maintaining open communication throughout a project’s lifecycle helps address concerns and ensures adequate information is available. Using trusted local partners to deliver factual, accessible information is also essential to building confidence and understanding, helping to build long-term trust, the foundation for countering misinformation and sustaining community support.
From workforce inclusion initiatives to community ownership models, Fluence’s approach to social responsibility is woven into every stage of project delivery, with two examples below demonstrating how collaboration can deliver meaningful impact beyond megawatts and market outcomes.
Case study 1: Empowering change through partnership – the Second Chance for Change Program
At the 1GWh Liddell Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project in New South Wales, Fluence has partnered with Blackrock Industries and AGL to implement the Second Chance for Change (SCFC) Program, an initiative providing education, training, and employment opportunities for incarcerated First Nations men.
Through this collaboration, participants gain industry-relevant experience and secure stable employment prior to completing their sentences. The outcomes have been profound: a 100% employment rate post-program, zero recidivism, and every participant gained meaningful paid work experience, allowing them to build personal savings and greater financial security before release.
Beyond the metrics, the programme has helped reshape lives and shift perceptions. It has strengthened cultural understanding across the site, built trust between all partners, and demonstrated how inclusive procurement can deliver real social and commercial value.
It also represents a model for what responsible engagement can achieve. SCFC creates pathways for employment in a growing industry while advancing commitments to diversity and community impact.
Case study 2: Community ownership in action – Wambal Bila and the Bulabul Battery 1
At the 600MWh Bulabul Battery 1 in New South Wales, a new approach to community partnership is taking shape. Fluence’s customer, AMPYR Energy, has entered a long-term agreement with Wambal Bila, a newly established, community-led corporation representing local First Nations interests.
Through this equity arrangement, Wambal Bila has secured a 5% equity stake in the project, ensuring that local people share directly in its success for years to come. The partnership extends beyond financial ownership, it empowers the community to participate in the energy transition, create local employment opportunities, and preserve cultural connection to the land.
Fluence is providing the Gridstack grid-scale energy storage system and Mosaic algorithmic bidding optimisation software. The collaboration exemplifies how industry and community can collaborate at every stage of the project to build a cleaner and more inclusive grid.
A broader commitment to responsible growth
Initiatives like SCFC at Liddell BESS and the equity arrangement at Bulabul Battery 1 reflect a core principle that should drive the continued shift to renewable economies: progress is most powerful when shared.
By embedding community engagement and social value creation into every stage of project delivery, energy storage development can strengthen not only the grid but also the communities they serve and operate in. Whether through employment pathways, local partnerships, or inclusive procurement, our goal remains the same: to build a cleaner, fairer, and more resilient energy future for all.
About the Author
Marie Cullen is head of procurement at Fluence, where her team is responsible for sourcing and supplier relationship management across battery energy storage projects in Australia. Marie is passionate about energy and has over 10 years of experience within the energy sector in Australia at AusNet and Jemena.
She believes procurement can make the world a better place. It can take the stress out of buying for our internal stakeholders and can enable businesses to foster strategic long-term relationships with their suppliers, allowing them to grow and innovate together. Marie is a Research Council member for World Commerce and Contracting and is a qualified Irish solicitor.