en.Wedoany.com Reported - Australian renewable energy company Ark Energy has received approval to connect its Richmond Valley Solar Farm and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in New South Wales to the National Electricity Market (NEM).
Located in northern New South Wales, the project has received a 5.3.4.A/B class letter confirming its compliance with generator performance standards. The grid connection approval was granted by transmission network operator Transgrid. This approval from the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) and the transmission network provider enables the project to connect to the 330kV local grid via a new switchyard.
Located approximately 25 kilometers south of Casino, the project has obtained planning permission to build a solar farm with an installed capacity of up to 500MW (i.e., 435MWac), along with a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery system with a capacity of up to 475MW.
Ark Energy CEO Michael Choi stated that obtaining grid connection approval for the project is a significant achievement for the team, bringing the company closer to financial close and paving the way for construction to begin in the coming months. He noted that this hybrid project is the company's flagship endeavor and, once operational, will contribute to electricity supply and grid stability in New South Wales and the National Electricity Market (NEM).
According to Ark Energy, the approval followed a detailed technical assessment, including design changes, electrical system modeling, various simulations, network studies, and collaborative workshops. The Richmond Valley project will utilize grid-forming inverter technology and will be one of the first hybrid solar and battery storage projects in the NEM to feature a single grid connection point.
Construction of the hybrid power project is targeted to begin later this year. The first phase will include a 200MWac solar farm and a 275MW/2.2GWh lithium iron phosphate battery energy storage system.
In December 2025, the Richmond Valley project received approval from the Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. This followed prior development approval from the New South Wales government.
The solar and storage project has been included in the Australian government's first National Renewable Energy Priority List and is Ark Energy's second project in New South Wales to receive both state and federal approvals. Ark Energy is focused on developing a series of large-scale renewable energy generation and storage projects across New South Wales, Queensland, and Tasmania.
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