The area around Richmond Valley's Myrtle Creek is a great location for solar energy generation with an excellent solar resource and proximity to existing transmission infrastructure.

The Richmond Valley Solar Farm project area is currently used for cattle grazing, and approximately 7 km east of Rappville and 25 km south of Casino in the Northern Rivers region of NSW.

The project involves a solar farm that could generate up to 500 megawatts and a long-duration battery energy storage system (BESS) to support the electricity needs of NSW consumers and the state's energy network.

The BESS will use LFP (Lithium-iron phosphate) technology and is capable of providing a power capacity of 275 megawatts and an energy storage capacity of up to 2,200 megawatt hours over 8 hours.

Ark Energy initiated the assessment process for the project by submitting a Scoping Report and request for Planning Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs) with the NSW Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) in July 2022.

DPE issued SEARs, which outline the requirements for the project’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), in September 2022.

Ark Energy is now progressing the various surveys and technical studies required for the EIS.

We are keen to engage with interested community members and other stakeholders for their input to help shape the project and maximise community benefits.

If you would like to share your views or have questions for the project team please send your comments via email or the online feedback form.

Project updates are issued regularly. To receive these via email register online here or if you would prefer to receive updates by post email the project team your address and a request to be added to the mailing list.