Australia’s largest solar farm has received Federal Government approval, with plans to export the power it produces to Singapore.
SunCable’s Australia-Asia Power Link, a large-scale industrial solar power project in the Northern Territory, is expected to generate up to 4GW of energy.
Federal Environment minister Tanya Plibersek said the 12,000 hectare solar farm project would produce enough energy to power 3 million homes.
“New projects like this are vital to meet the growing local and international demand for renewable energy and help put downward pressure on energy prices, but they are also great for local jobs and economies,” Minister Plibersek said.
“The project will be economically and socially transformational for the Northern Territory.”
Minister Plibersek said it would enable a green manufacturing sector and produce renewable solar power for Darwin.
She said there was potential to export power to Singapore and provide a long-term source of ongoing employment in remote areas.
“SunCable estimate the project will deliver more than $20 billion in economic value to the Northern Territory and support an average of 6800 direct and indirect jobs for each year of the construction phase, with a peak workforce of 14,300.”
Minister Plibersek said the project was located on a pastoral station between Elliot and Tennant Creek, with the approval including an 800km transmission line to Darwin and an underwater cable to the end of Australian waters.
She said the approval came with strict conditions to protect nature, including requirements to completely avoid important species like the Greater Bilby and critical habitat.
“This massive project is a generation-defining piece of infrastructure. It will be the largest solar precinct in the world – and heralds Australia as the world leader in green energy.”
