The Richmond Valley project will incorporate grid-forming inverter technology and is set to be one of the first hybrid solar-plus-storage developments in the NEM to operate through a single point of connection, a configuration that simplifies dispatch and grid services delivery compared with separately connected generation and storage assets.
Construction on Stage 1 is targeted to commence later in 2026, featuring a 200MWac solar PV power plant co-located with a long-duration 275MW/2,200MWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery storage system. The full approved configuration includes 435MW of solar PV and a 475MW/3,148MWh BESS.
Ark Energy CEO Michael Choi said the grid connection approval brings the project a step closer to financial close.
“This is a flagship project for Ark Energy and once operational, it will make a significant contribution to electricity supply and grid stability for NSW and the NEM,” Choi said.
A long development journey reaches a turning point
