Australia-Asia PowerLink: A Renewable Energy Project Set to Transform Australia's and Asia's Energy Future

Darwin, 16 August 2024 - The Australia-Asia PowerLink project, led by SunCable, is poised to become a landmark in global energy transition. This ambitious venture aims to build the world's largest solar farm, located in Australia's Northern Territory, and provide clean electricity to both Darwin and Singapore.

The solar farm will cover an area of approximately 12,000 hectares and will have an installed capacity of 6 gigawatts per hour. Of this, 4 gigawatts will be used domestically in Australia, while the remaining 2 gigawatts will be exported to Singapore via a 4,300-kilometre undersea cable.

The project will also include batteries with a storage capacity of 40 gigawatts, ensuring a stable supply of energy. Construction is expected to commence in early 2030s, with estimated investments of around 24 billion Australian dollars.

This project is a significant step for Australia in its transition to renewable energy sources and towards becoming a global leader in green energy. SunCable, founded in 2018, aims to leverage Australia's vast solar resource potential – among the highest per capita in the world – to ensure a continuous supply of renewable energy to Darwin and Singapore.

Construction of the project is set to begin in 2023, with electricity transmission to Darwin expected by 2026 and to Singapore by 2027. The project will reach its full capacity in 2028, providing 6 gigawatts of clean electricity.

The Australia-Asia PowerLink will not only help reduce carbon emissions but also bring significant economic benefits to the Northern Territory region, fostering job creation and the development of new industries. Additionally, the export of electricity to Singapore, which currently produces over 94% of its electricity from natural gas, will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and diversify the country's energy sources.

Australia's Minister for Energy, Chris Bowen, highlighted the importance of the project: "The Australia-Asia PowerLink is a national-level project that captures the Northern Territory's comparative advantage in producing and supplying zero-emission electricity to Darwin and Singapore. This will place downward pressure on electricity prices in the Darwin region for residential and industrial consumers, reduce Australia's greenhouse gas emissions, and develop a new renewable electricity export industry for Northern Australia."

This project is seen as a crucial step in Australia's contribution to the European Union's climate goals and the commitments of the Paris Agreement. Australia continues to invest in innovative technologies and infrastructure to ensure renewable energies play an increasingly central role in the country's energy supply.