The Australian government gave the go-ahead on August 21 to develop the A$20 billion (US$13.5 billion) Australia-Asia Power Link (AAPowerLink) transnational energy interconnection project. This ambitious project will harness the potential of solar energy in northern Australia to deliver electricity to Singapore via a 4,300-kilometer undersea cable.
The project will not only meet Australia's renewable energy targets, but will also strengthen Australia's position as a global leader in the energy transition, according to Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek.
The World’s Largest Solar Energy Project
This massive solar farm is projected to be the largest in the world, more than four times the size of similar international projects. Additionally, it is expected to generate enough clean energy to power three million households and will include panels, batteries, and cables that will eventually connect Australia to Singapore.
The AAPowerLink project, now owned by billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes after he purchased the project developer SunCable in May last year, will link a solar farm with a capacity of more than 20 gigawatts in the Northern Territory of Australia to Singapore.
The first phase involves the installation of 4 gigawatts of solar panels and 800 kilometers of overhead cables leading to Darwin. The project aims to provide up to 6 gigawatts of green electricity in two phases of development, with 4 gigawatts for industrial customers in Darwin and 2 gigawatts for Singapore, accounting for approximately 15 percent of the city-state’s energy needs.
SunCable plans to reach a final investment decision by 2027 and begin exporting electricity in the early 2030s, after securing approvals from indigenous groups, Singapore, and Indonesia. The project must comply with strict conditions to protect the environment, including avoiding the habitat of the bilby, a small rabbit-like marsupial with long floppy ears.
Promoting Green Energy for Both Countries
The project also aligns with Singapore's plan to import up to 4 GW of low-carbon electricity by 2035, which will account for about 30 percent of its electricity supply.
Meanwhile, Singapore is currently expanding its renewable energy projects, despite proposals from the opposition coalition to build nuclear power plants as a coal alternative by 2050, even though nuclear energy is currently banned.
Australia, one of the largest exporters of coal and gas, is facing the impact of climate change. However, only 32 percent of its electricity generation came from renewable energy sources in 2022, while coal accounted for 47 percent.
