Richmond Valley Solar Farm & BESS

  • Snap Shot

The Richmond Valley Solar Farm and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) is a utility-scale renewable energy project located near Myrtle Creek, approximately 7 km east of Rappville in NSW, within the Richmond Valley Local Government Area. The project will be constructed on two freehold properties in a predominantly rural area, bordering the Bungawalbin State Forest to the east.

Turnbull Engineering was engaged by Ark Energy as the lead civil and structural reference designer, building on earlier involvement in the concept road design. This engagement has since extended into detailed design and construction phase services for public road upgrades.

  • Location
    Myrtle Creek, NSW, approx. 7 km east of Rappville, Richmond Valley LGA

  • Client
    Transport for NSW, Seymour Whyte and Turnbull Engineering

  • Project type
    Utility-scale solar farm, battery energy storage, and transmission

  • Turnbull’s role
    Lead civil & structural reference designer; detailed design of public road upgrades

  • Estimated Capex
    ~$1.2 billion

  • Timeline
    2024-2026

  • Status
    In delivery, with detailed design and construction phase underway

Project Overview

The project involves the construction, operation and eventual decommissioning of up to 250 MW of DC solar generation, a BESS with a power capacity of 275 MW and an energy storage capacity of up to 2,200 MWh over eight hours, and a transmission line connecting the project substation to the National Electricity Market (NEM).

The project also includes inverters, a switching substation and collector substation, temporary construction facilities, an operations and maintenance (O&M) facility, internal roads and civil works, and all required electrical infrastructure.

 
 

Turnbull’s role

Reference Design

  • Public roads and Access Roads to the site facilities

  • Temporary construction facilities (laydowns, site compound etc.)

  • O&M Facility including office and maintenance shed, water tanks, washdown, carparking, etc.

  • Access tracks, solar arrays & inverters

  • Switching substation and collector substation

  • Transmission line infrastructure

  • Battery Energy Storage Systems

  • SCADA system

Detailed Design

  • Public road upgrades for TfNSW intersection including WAD

  • Public road upgrades for Council intersection and 6 km of Council Road including separate temporary works package for OSOM access

Project Highlights

  • Continuity from concept through to construction

    Turnbull’s involvement spans from the initial concept road design through reference design and into detailed design and construction phase support, giving Ark Energy a consistent team with deep project knowledge across all phases.

  • Client satisfaction of 92–96% across engagements

    Ark Energy independently assessed Turnbull’s performance across the concept design (April 2024) and 30% reference design (January 2025) phases, with scores consistently above 90% across scope management, communication, technical services, staffing, and schedule.

  • Multi-authority road approvals delivered concurrently

    The detailed design required coordinated approvals across TfNSW (WAD process) and Richmond Valley Council simultaneously. Turnbull managed both processes concurrently to minimise program impacts and eliminate duplication of effort.

  • Renewable energy sector expertise

    RVSF sits within Turnbull’s growing portfolio of renewable energy civil and structural design work, which spans Hills of Gold Wind Farm, Central West Orana REZ, White Rock Wind Farm Stage 2, Oven Mountain PHES, and Boomer Green Energy Hub.

By the numbers

250 MW

DC solar capacity

275 MW / 2,200 MWh

BESS power & storage

~4.5 km

Council road detailed design

~$1.2B

estimated capex

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