Australia Grants Approval for Largest Solar Power Plant to Supply Energy to Singapore
This massive solar farm will transmit power through a 4,300-kilometre cable under the sea and will be visible from space.
A solar project, known as the SunCable Australia-Asia Power Link (AAPowerLink), has been approved to transmit power via a high-voltage, 4,300-kilometre cable between Australia and Singapore, passing through Indonesian waters. It will be the largest solar farm in the country and will be visible from space.
The solar farm will be constructed on a 12,000-hectare site in the Northern Territory (NT) at a former cattle station, providing power to Darwin as well. SunCable, the company behind the project, states that the hot NT region of Australia is an ideal location for solar power generation.
The project aims to capture electricity from a renewable energy and battery complex in the Barkly region of the Northern Territory and transmit it through an 800km overhead transmission line to Darwin and eventually to Singapore. The transmission line will follow the footprint of the Alice Springs to Darwin Railway Corridor.
This transmission approach is expected to reduce disturbance during construction and maintenance, enhance safety, provide route flexibility, and allow the infrastructure to coexist with other developments, leaving the land underneath available for other purposes.
The project is anticipated to create numerous jobs, opportunities for local businesses, and investment prospects across Australia, Singapore, and Indonesia. Ultimately, the solar farm could generate approximately 6GW of power for Darwin and Singapore.
The project, which was acquired by Australian businessman Mike Cannon-Brookes after going into voluntary administration, received approval from Minister Plibersek on Aug. 21. Plibersek also criticized the opposition’s nuclear energy plan, stating that the solar farm positions Australia as a global leader in green energy.
In contrast to the opposition’s nuclear plan, Plibersek highlighted the benefits of the renewable energy transition, emphasizing job creation and price reduction. She compared the AAPowerLink’s power generation to that of a large nuclear reactor proposed by the opposition leader, Peter Dutton.
Australians have a choice between investing in renewable energy or nuclear power, with supporters of nuclear energy arguing for reduced power bills and concerns about land use for renewable energy generation.
Australia’s goal is to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, with coal also emerging as a contender in the country’s energy landscape alongside renewable and nuclear options.