The Australia-Asia transmission line will generate 4 GWh for domestic use, with excess electricity sent to Singapore.
In an important step towards establishing Australia as a leader in renewable energy, the government has approved a new large-scale industrial solar project in the country's Northern Territory. It reports interestingengineering.com.
The industrial solar project will generate enough energy to power 3 million homes.
According to Australian Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek, the project will include a solar power plant and a cable connecting Australia to Singapore to export excess energy.
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The 12,000 hectare Australia-Asia Power Link project, located in Australia's sun-drenched Northern Territory, will be installed by SunCable. It will bring more than $20 billion in economic benefits to the Northern Territory and create an average of 6,800 jobs annually during the construction period, with a peak workforce of 14,300. The figure is calculated based on the period of construction and the first 35 years of operation. The solar farm project is located on a pastoral station between Elliott and Tennant Creek. The permit also provides for the laying of a submarine cable to the edge of Australian waters and an 800 km long power transmission line to Darwin.
The SPP will produce 4 GWh of electricity for domestic use. The two additional gigawatts that will be delivered by submarine cable to Singapore will meet about 15% of the city-state's needs. Around 40GW can be stored in the batteries.
The project is expected to receive a final investment decision in 2027, with electricity starting in the early 2030s.
Although Australians are among the world's most active users of residential solar panels, successive governments have been reluctant to fully commit to renewable energy, The Australian reports. According to the latest government figures, renewables will account for 32% of Australia's total electricity generation in 2022, while coal still dominates at 47%.
Australia is also one of the world's largest exporters of coal and gas, but a series of recent natural disasters, such as floods and wildfires, have prompted the new government to switch to greener sources of energy production.