Trina Solar Energy Storage Project Withdrawn: Global Energy Storage Approval Barriers Intensify, US 97 BESS Bans Sound Alarm

(Source: Energy Storage World)

Trina Solar Energy Storage Project Withdrawn Sparks Industry Attention

The recent withdrawal of a project by China’s new energy company Trina Solar has sparked widespread discussion in the market.

The 200MW / 800MWh Pleystowe battery energy storage project planned in Queensland, Australia, has officially withdrawn its development application.

Energy Storage World Photo

The project was originally planned near Mackay but faced strong community opposition during the approval process. Public records show that during the public consultation, the local government received 733 objections and only 3 supporting comments.

Subsequently, the Queensland government activated the “call-in” mechanism, with the state planning minister directly taking over the project approval process. This move changed the original approval process handled by local authorities and courts, ultimately leading Trina Solar to withdraw the application.

Multiple Large Storage Projects in Australia Face Approval Controversies

Trina Solar’s case is not unique. In recent years, several large energy storage projects in Australia have encountered community opposition or government intervention during approval.

Projects still awaiting approval include:

• Potentia Energy’s 300MW / 1200MWh Capricorn Storage Project

• Iberdrola’s 500MW storage project planned in Bundaberg

These projects generally face disputes over land use, noise, fire safety, and environmental impact.

Meanwhile, the Queensland government is strengthening planning regulations for storage projects, integrating them into approval frameworks similar to wind and solar power, which means future large-scale storage projects may undergo more complex assessments.

US Storage Projects Also Face Local Restrictions

Similar situations are emerging in the United States. Monitoring data from storage developer Carina Energy shows that at least 17 states and 150 local governments have imposed restrictions on battery energy storage system (BESS) development through moratoriums, bans, or restrictive regulations.

New York State is among the most restrictive regions.

Data indicates that New York currently has 97 storage project moratoriums. Out of 62 counties, 37 have implemented at least one storage restriction.

Examples include:

• Westchester County: 9 moratoriums

• Chautauqua County: 8 moratoriums

• Erie County: 6 moratoriums

This reflects that local government and community acceptance are becoming critical factors in the deployment of energy storage projects during the energy transition.

Storage Fire Incidents Become Controversy Focus

One of the main reasons for local restrictions is public concern over fire risks associated with storage.

For example, in 2023, New York experienced two consecutive storage fire incidents within a few weeks.

In 2025, Convergent Energy & Power’s Church Street storage facility in Warwick caught fire again.

In California, the most notable incident occurred at Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility operated by Vistra Energy. The fire directly prompted updates to local storage safety regulations.

Many residents worry that battery fires could release harmful gases, affecting air quality and public health.

Industry Safety Standards and Technologies Continue to Improve

Despite individual incidents drawing attention, the storage industry has made significant progress in safety technology in recent years.

Most storage power stations now use containerized battery systems, each equipped with independent fire suppression and explosion-proof structures, limiting accidents to individual cells or containers.

Storage projects generally adhere to multiple international safety standards, including:

• UL 9540: Energy Storage System Safety Certification

• UL 9540A: Thermal Runaway Testing

• NFPA 855: Standard for Energy Storage System Safety

• NFPA 68 / NFPA 69: Explosion Prevention Standards

In September 2025, NFPA released the latest version of NFPA 855, setting higher requirements for design, fire protection, and emergency response of storage facilities.

Industry experts generally believe that with technological upgrades and standard improvements, the safety of storage systems is gradually increasing.

Distributed Storage Rise Alters Market Landscape

Beyond approval challenges, large storage projects face new market competition.

In Australia, residential storage and virtual power plants (VPPs) are rapidly developing. The government’s residential battery subsidy program has supported over 12GWh of distributed storage capacity.

This means that in the future, large-scale storage stations may need to compete with distributed networks composed of numerous household batteries.

Some industry analysts believe that:

• Long-duration storage systems (LDS)

• Integrated solar and storage projects

may have more stable business models than standalone battery storage projects.

Storage Industry Enters “Social Acceptance Era”

From Trina Solar’s project withdrawal to multiple US states suspending storage approvals, it’s clear that the storage industry is entering a new development phase.

Previously, the main challenges were technological maturity and cost reduction. Now, more projects face issues such as:

• Community acceptance

• Safety regulation

• Land use disputes

• Policy stability

Surveys show that about 71% of Americans support storage projects, but 47% of respondents said they would only accept storage facilities if they fully understood safety measures.

Therefore, future success of storage projects will increasingly depend on transparent safety information, robust regulatory systems, and effective community communication.

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