The Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) has approved Ark Energy’s Richmond Valley Solar & Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project, due to be constructed approximately 25 km south of Casino in northern New South Wales.

The approval from DCCEEW comes a couple of months after the project received development consent from the NSW Government. The project has planning approval for a solar farm of up to 500 megawatts (MW) (435 MWac) and a long-duration Lithium-iron phosphate BESS with a power capacity of up to 475 MW.

The project was referred to DCCEEW in September 2023 and in November 2023 was determined a controlled action under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) with the controlling provision of listed threatened species and communities (sections 18 & 18A).

As more information about the site became available through the environmental assessment work, design iterations focused on avoiding areas of highest quality habitat and biodiversity value and maintaining habitat connectivity.

In addition to environmental offset management areas, commitments to improve biodiversity outcomes include management of significant cane toad populations in the project area and establishment of a new 30-metre wide biodiversity corridor along the northern boundary with planting of a variety of native species to improve connectivity between the Ellangowan and Bungawalbin State Forests.

Ark Energy CEO Michael Choi said he welcomed the Commonwealth’s decision and was proud of the work the project team had done.

“We are proud to have achieved the significant milestone of securing primary approvals for the project, and the design refinement to minimise impacts and achieve environmental gains,” Mr Choi said.

“In addition to renewable electricity generation and storage for NSW, economic development for the region and significant community benefit funds, this project will deliver initiatives to improve the area’s biodiversity and habitat values.”

Based on project amendments resulting in an overall reduction in the disturbance footprint, DCCEEW determined that no conditions of the approval are required.

Listed in the Australian Government's inaugural National Renewable Energy Priority List, the Richmond Valley Solar & BESS is Ark Energy’s second NSW project to secure state development and Commonwealth approvals.

Ark Energy signed a supply contract with Hanwha Energy for the BESS in March 2025 and an Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) agreement for the project with Elecnor Australia in September 2025. The project is due to be built in stages, with construction of the first stage consisting of a 200 MW AC solar farm and 275 MW / 2,200 MWh BESS to commence in 2026.

DCCEEW’s decision notice is available from the Richmond Valley Solar Farm page in the EPBC Act Public Portal (EPBC Number 2023/09641)

Planning and assessment documentation, including the project’s Biodiversity Development Assessment Report, is available from the project's page in the NSW Government's Major Projects portal.