Grounding Energy Storage Infrastructure Implementation in Social Impact

The Problem

In February 2025, we were engaged by Mulilo Energy to undertake a comprehensive Community Needs Assessment across three municipalities identified for the development of Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) infrastructure. The objective was to generate actionable socio-economic intelligence that would support responsible project development, strengthen stakeholder relationships, and maximise long-term community value.

Recognising the complex development dynamics within project host communities, we adopted a multi-pronged assessment approach aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and informed by key socio-economic development pillars.

The Engagement

Our assessment combined both secondary and primary research methodologies to provide a holistic understanding of community needs, opportunities, and risks, covering:

Socio-Economic Research and Analysis

• Conducted an extensive desktop review of available socio-economic, demographic, economic, and development data for the three municipalities.
• Analysed local development priorities, existing community challenges, and economic opportunities relevant to the proposed BESS projects.
• Assessed socio-economic conditions against key SDG indicators to identify areas requiring targeted intervention.

Primary Community Research

• Designed and administered customised community surveys to capture local perspectives, priorities, and expectations.
• Facilitated focused group discussions with community representatives and key stakeholder groups.
• Gathered qualitative and quantitative insights on community needs, development aspirations, and perceived project impacts.

Enterprise and Supplier Development Assessment

• Evaluated the local enterprise and supplier landscape to determine the capacity and maturity of businesses within the project areas.
• Assessed opportunities for local participation in the project value chain.
• Reviewed existing Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) initiatives implemented by mining and energy sector stakeholders to identify opportunities for collaboration and leverage existing community investments.

The Client Benefits

The Community Needs Assessment provided Mulilo Energy with a robust evidence base to guide both project planning and community investment decisions.

Key benefits included:

• A tailored socio-economic profile of each municipality, highlighting community priorities, development gaps, and opportunities for impact.
• Critical insights that informed the development of a fit-for-purpose Social Impact Strategy aligned with local needs and expectations.
• Enhanced stakeholder engagement planning through a deeper understanding of community dynamics and concerns.
• Early identification of social and operational risks, enabling proactive mitigation and relationship management.
• Strategic guidance on partnership opportunities with community organisations, development agencies, and local stakeholders.
• Insights to support the planning and implementation of both pre-construction and operational community development initiatives.
• A comprehensive assessment of local Enterprise and Supplier Development opportunities, including supplier readiness, market maturity, and areas for capacity building.
• Identification of existing ESD programmes and potential synergies with initiatives already implemented by mining and energy sector companies operating in the region.

The assessment enabled Mulilo Energy to make informed decisions regarding community engagement, social investment, and local economic development. By grounding project planning in evidence-based community insights, Mulilo was better positioned to build trusted stakeholder relationships, create meaningful socio-economic impact, and support the sustainable implementation of its Battery Energy Storage System projects.