According to a latest report by the Australian renewable energy media Renewable Economy on December 1, 2025, the planned largest solar and battery storage hybrid project in the country—the Richmond Valley Solar Farm developed by Ark Energy—has undergone significant adjustments to its plans and received federal government approval.

The project is located at Myrtle Creek in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales. It was previously planned as a 500-megawatt (MW) solar farm paired with a 275 MW / 2,200 megawatt-hour (MWh) battery energy storage system. The core changes in this adjustment include:
Upgraded Battery Storage System: Its power capacity has been increased from 275 MW to 475 MW, aiming to "improve synergies with the solar farm."
Optimized Solar Farm Layout: Due to adjustments in the grid connection point, modifications to fencing lines, and considerations for protecting specific plant species, the layout of the solar panels has been optimized, reducing the project's total land footprint by 14 hectares.
The report notes that these design adjustments have achieved a reduction in the project's overall development footprint. Although the battery section's footprint slightly increased due to the addition of 80 inverters, the optimized layout of the solar section resulted in significant land savings. The project has received state planning approval and is scheduled to commence construction early next year.

（Note: The main body of the above news is compiled from reports by Renewable Economy for the purpose of sharing industry information. For the most accurate and up-to-date details of the project, it is recommended to refer to official announcements from Ark Energy or the original news source.）