The Australian government has granted approval for the 1,440MWh Garoo solar-plus-storage project, which is being pursued by Jinko Power Australia, the regional entity of Chinese solar manufacturer JinkoSolar.
Located approximately 40km south of Tamworth in New South Wales, the hybrid renewable energy facility will feature a 134MW solar PV power plant paired with a 360MW/1,440MWh battery energy storage system (BESS).
The Garoo solar-plus-storage project is being developed via a collaboration between Jinko Power and Sydney-headquartered developer Bright Path Renewables.
The approved development will span 306 hectares of predominantly cleared agricultural land and include approximately 234,000 solar modules. Once operational, the facility is expected to generate around 380GWh of renewable energy annually.
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According to planning documents, the BESS will be located at the northern point of the site near Garoo Road. The solar PV power plants will be split into two, with Tamarang Creek serving as a natural division.
The project was submitted to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act in June 2025. The EPBC Act, administered by the federal government, aims to protect nationally threatened species and ecological communities. Approval must be received before a project can be developed.
Construction on the site is expected to commence in late 2026, with an estimated 18-month construction and commissioning period. The project has a planned operational lifespan of approximately 30 years, with full operations expected to begin in 2028.
The Garoo Solar Farm will connect to the National Electricity Market (NEM) via an existing 330kV overhead transmission line, minimising the need for additional transmission infrastructure.
The facility is situated in a rural region that is rapidly emerging as a renewable energy hub. Neighbouring developments include Total Eren’s 780MWh Middlebrook solar-plus-storage project, approximately 10km to the north, and Venn Energy’s 1,200MWh Lambruk solar-plus-storage site.
JinkoSolar continues to expand its presence across the Australian renewables market. Last year, the company submitted plans for an 800MWh solar-plus-storage site in Queensland to the EPBC Act.
Called the Beebo Solar Farm and BESS, the site is being proposed in the south of the state, south-west of Inglewood.
Energy storage in Australia’s EPBC Act
Australia’s energy storage sector continues to gain momentum with multiple significant BESS projects submitted to the EPBC Act in recent months.
Sydney-based developer Stor-Energy has been particularly active, submitting plans for a 150MW/730MWh battery storage project in New South Wales in August 2025. The Molong BESS project, located in the central west region of NSW, will connect to TransGrid’s nearby Molong substation for integration with the NEM.
The company has also submitted plans for two adjacent BESS facilities in Queensland’s Western Downs region. The Columboola West and Columboola East projects will provide 400MW/1,600MWh and 150MW/1,200MWh of capacity, respectively. Planning approvals are expected in early 2026.
Earlier this month, Energy-Storage.news reported that a 12GWh pumped hydro project and a 1,200MWh BESS in New South Wales had been submitted to the EPBC Act.
The Phoenix Pumped Hydro Energy Storage Project, which renewables developer ACEN Australia is pursuing, is located approximately 35km west of Mudgee in NSW’s Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ). It is designed to provide up to 12 hours of storage with a total capacity of 11,990MWh.
Meanwhile, Spanish sustainable energy developer X-Elio is proposing the 300MW/1,200MWh Willavale Park BESS, which is located 22km southwest of Goulburn and strategically positioned alongside the Hume Highway.
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