Australia OKs Sun Cable's cross-border grid integration project

Singapore will also benefit from this.

Sun Cable has received the approval of the Australian government for its Australia-Asia Power Link (AAPowerLink) which will be the biggest renewable energy and transmission project in the world. 

In a statement, Sun Cable said the project was assessed and approved by the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment and Water under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. 

The Australian government said in another statement that the approval includes an 800-kilometre (km) transmission line to Darwin and an underwater cable to the end of Australian waters.

AAPowerLink, a two-phase green energy project, aims to supply six gigawatts of renewable electricity to major industrial customers. Four gigawatts of this capacity will be allocated to Darwin, powering three million homes, whilst supply will also be exported to Singapore through a 4,300-km subsea cable.

Its 12,000-hectare solar farm project is located on a pastoral station between Elliot and Tennant Creek. 

AAPowerLink is expected to deliver more than $13.42b (A$20b) in economic value to the Northern Territory during the construction period and its first 35 years of operation.

The final investment decision on the project is expected in 2027 with electricity supply to commence in early 2030.

US$1 = A$1.49