The Australian federal government has granted approval for the construction of the country’s largest solar farm, a key component of SunCable’s ambitious Australia-Asia Power Link (AAPowerLink) project. Backed by billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes, this project will see the establishment of a 12,000-hectare solar farm on a pastoral station between Elliot and Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory.
The solar farm is expected to generate up to 6GW of renewable energy, with 4GW designated for use in Darwin—enough to power three million homes. The project also includes an 800km transmission line to Darwin and an underwater cable extending to the edge of Australian waters, which will ultimately connect to Singapore.
This federal approval follows the in-principle environmental clearance granted last month by the Northern Territory Government and the NT Environment Protection Authority. According to SunCable, these approvals are crucial for the development of the infrastructure needed to supply electricity to emerging green industries in the Northern Territory and to export renewable energy to Singapore.
SunCable Australia’s Managing Director, Cameron Garnsworthy, hailed the approval as a “landmark moment” in the project’s journey, following four years of extensive assessments and public consultations across Australia.
“SunCable is committed to helping decarbonize the planet,” Garnsworthy stated. “Today’s announcement reflects confidence in both the project and our commitment to responsibly managing the Northern Territory environment. We will now focus on advancing the project towards a final investment decision by 2027.”
The project is anticipated to deliver more than $20 billion in economic value to the Northern Territory over the construction period and the first 35 years of operation. Minister for the Environment Tanya Plibersek, who signed off on the approvals, described the project as a “generation-defining piece of infrastructure” that positions Australia as a global leader in green energy.
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