Location
The project is located on private land within the Armidale Regional Local Government Area, approximately 16 kilometres east of Armidale, New South Wales.
It covers approximately 12 hectares of privately owned rural land, along with a new approximately 2-kilometre access road across private land to connect the site to the existing road network. The land will be purchased by FRV for the construction and operation of the project.
Site Selection
FRV considers that this location is suitable for the project due to
Additional land for development is not currently being sought, as the project has been designed to match the available network capacity in this area.
Strategic Location
The site is located adjacent to an existing 330 kV overhead transmission line, providing an efficient and ideal connection point to the national electricity grid and avoiding the need for new transmission infrastructure.
Reduced environmental impact
The project location minimises native vegetation clearing by avoiding new transmission easements and aligning the access road with existing fence lines where practicable. Riparian zones and sensitive waterways have been largely avoided.
Compatible land use and co-location
The project is located next to the existing Metz Solar Farm, reducing land fragmentation and supporting compatibility with established renewable energy land uses within the New England Renewable Energy Zone.
Amenity protection and natural screening
Existing topography, vegetation, and project setbacks help minimise visual and noise impacts on neighbouring properties.
Safe and well-suited site conditions
The selected location reduces flood risk and surface water exposure, supporting safe construction and long-term operation of the battery facility.
Access and transport links
The site has good access to local and major roads, enabling efficient construction access and ongoing operational requirements.