Australia’s largest solar farm has received approval, marking a significant step towards becoming a global leader in renewable energy. The Sun Cable Australia-Asia Power Link is set to generate 4 gigawatts (GW) of clean energy through a sprawling 12,000-hectare solar farm located in the Northern Territory, near Tennant Creek.
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek announced the approval today, which includes the development of an 800-kilometer transmission line to Darwin and an underwater cable extending beyond Australian waters. This ambitious project is anticipated to enhance the Northern Territory’s economy and elevate Australia’s status in global renewable energy markets.
“This will be the largest solar precinct in the world and positions Australia as a leader in green energy,” Plibersek stated. She emphasized the project’s capacity to provide approximately 15% of Singapore’s energy needs via a 4,200-kilometer subsea cable.
Plibersek contrasted the project’s benefits with the opposition’s proposal for nuclear energy, calling it an “expensive nuclear fantasy” that lacks detailed plans and feasibility. She highlighted that the Sun Cable project would deliver nearly six times more power than a 700 megawatt (MW) nuclear reactor, thus underscoring the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of renewable energy.
The Sun Cable project received early backing from prominent billionaires Andrew Forrest and Mike Cannon-Brookes. Following the project’s placement into voluntary administration in January 2023, Cannon-Brookes succeeded in acquiring it, despite initial disagreements with Forrest over the viability of transmitting electricity to Singapore.
With this new development, Australia is poised to make a substantial impact on the global renewable energy landscape.
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