SunCable's AAPowerLink gets environmental approval
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The news: SunCable's AAPowerLink has received environmental approval from the Northern Territory government and NT Environmental Protection Authority, bringing Mike Cannon-Brookes' project one step closer to reality. The project aims to transmit solar energy from the NT to Singapore via an undersea cable.
The numbers: AAPowerLink, due to be completed in two stages, aims to deliver 4GW of green energy to industrial customers in Darwin and 1.75GW to Singapore via a 4,300km undersea cable.
SunCable estimates the construction phase will create an average 6,800 jobs per year in the NT, as well as contributing $20 billion in economic value to the territory during the construction period and first 35 years of operation.
SunCable noted a final investment decision was expected in 2027, with electricity supply to commence in the early 2030s.
The context: SunCable seeks to address rising electricity demand in resource-inhibited island nations of Southeast Asia, with the flagship linkage being Singapore. The highly ambitious project is the largest of its kind globally, and will likely be one the largest industrial developments in Australia’s history.
SunCable’s mission has been mired in conflicting visions, with a fallout between major investors Andrew Forrest and Atlassian CEO Cannon-Brookes tipping the company into voluntary administration which left Cannon-Brookes with complete ownership last year. The environmental approval, which covers a significant portion of the overall proposed AAPowerLink infrastructure, represents a milestone for Cannon-Brookes' new development structure, bringing the project one step closer to reality.
What they said: “This approval allows us to progress the development, commercial, and engineering activities required to advance the project to final investment decision targeted in 2027,” SunCable managing director Cameron Garnsworthy said.
"This will underpin a new wave of green industrial development in the NT, via prospective projects that include green minerals, hydrogen, e-fuels, and data centres.”
The source: SunCable media release
