06 Jun 2022, 10:07 am
Further progress has been made on the Australia-Asia PowerLink (AAPowerLink) megaproject, which incorporates the world’s largest planned solar farm.
Developer Sun Cable has now submitted an environmental impact statement (EIS) to the Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority for the project.
AAPowerLink is worth A$30 billion and has an expected capacity of 17-20 gigawatts (GW) solar energy generation. The project also incorporates 4,200 kilometres of high-voltage direct current (HVDC) submarine cable, which is expected to transport electricity generated in Australia’s Northern Territory (NT) to Singapore.
According to a press report, the project will be able to supply 15% of Singapore’s energy requirements once operational.
According to a released document (69-page/3.85 MB), the expected operational phase for the transmission is 70 years. If all necessary approvals are secured, construction work will start in 2023 and electricity generation will start in 2026. The first transmission to Singapore is expected in 2027.
In July 2021, the NT’s state government awarded 'major project status' to AAPowerLink, recognising its potential to "inject billions into the economy and create thousands of Australian jobs".
