Dinawan Solar Farm and battery project located in New South Wales, Australia has secured final state approval. The hybrid project, developed by Spark Renewables, will combine an 800 MW solar installation with a 356 MW/1,574 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS), making it one of the largest integrated solar-plus-storage projects in Australia. Located in the Riverina region within the South West Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), the project is also part of the broader Dinawan Energy Hub. It is also expected to play an important role in strengthening NSW’s grid reliability and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

Why is Dinawan Solar Farm and battery project in NSW important?

Dinawan Solar Farm and battery project sits within the South West Renewable Energy Zone (REZ). This is a designated corridor designed to integrate large-scale renewable generation with upgraded transmission infrastructure.

Hybrid solar-plus-storage projects are also becoming increasingly important as Australia moves away from coal-fired baseload generation. By pairing solar PV with large-scale batteries, projects like Dinawan can store excess daytime generation and deliver electricity during peak evening demand. This is while providing ancillary grid services such as frequency control.

Spark Renewable’s hybrid installation is also strategically positioned along the EnergyConnect interconnector project. This enhances its ability to distribute power across state borders and improve system resilience.

Project cost

Dinawan Solar Farm and battery project is estimated at approximately AUD 1.35 billion (US$930 million).

The investment is backed by Malaysian company Tenaga Nasional Berhad (parent company of Spark Renewables) and institutional capital supporting Spark’s broader pipeline of over 3 GW of renewable projects across Australia.

The project is also expected to generate significant economic benefits, including 400 construction jobs and long-term operational roles. This is while supporting regional procurement and infrastructure investment.

Technology and design at Dinawan Solar Farm and battery project

Dinawan Solar Farm and battery storage project has the following key components:

• 800 MW solar PV (2 million panels)
• 356 MW/1,574 MWh BESS
• Substations and grid connection infrastructure
• Temporary construction compounds and worker accommodation

Additionally, the hybrid configuration significantly improves the dispatchability of solar energy, addressing one of the key limitations of standalone PV systems.

Dinawan Solar Farm and battery storage project fact sheet

Location: Riverina region in New South Wales, Australia

Solar capacity: 800 MW

Battery capacity: 356 MW/1,574 MWh

Total investment: AUD 1.35 billion (US$930 million)

Developer: Spark Renewables

Parent company: Tenaga Nasional Berhad

Grid zone: South West Renewable Energy Zone (REZ)

Status: Approved

Employment: 400 construction jobs

Output: Power for 142,000 homes

Project team

• Spark Renewables – Project developer
• NSW Independent Planning Commission – Project approval authority
• Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure – Assessment and recommendation body
• Tenaga Nasional Berhad – Parent company and investor

Development timeline

2023: Acquisition of Spark Renewables by Tenaga Nasional Berhad

2024 through 2025: Project development, environmental and planning assessments

Dec 2025: Recommended for approval by NSW planning authorities

April 2026: Final approval granted by NSW Independent Planning Commission