AAPowerLink Gets Principal Environmental Approval

The world’s ‘largest’ renewable energy and transmission project in development, SunCable’s Australia-Asia Power Link (AAPowerLink) with up to 17 GW to 20 GW planned solar PV capacity, has secured principal environmental approval in Australia.  

The approval from the Northern Territory Government and NT Environment Protection Authority (NT EPA) paves the way for the project’s next phase of development, said SunCable.  

Specifically, the environmental approval covers up to 10 GW of solar generation and utility-scale storage site at Powell Creek with an approximately 800 km High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) overhead transmission line running from the solar precinct to Murrumujuk, north-east of Darwin.   

In the 2 stages of development, it plans to deliver up to 4 GW of 24x7 green electricity to green industrial customers in Darwin, spread out as 900 MW under stage 1 and close to 3 GW under stage 2. Additionally, 1.75 GW will be dedicated to customers in Singapore via a 4,300 km subsea cable.  

“This approval allows us to progress the development, commercial, and engineering activities required to advance the project to Final Investment Decision targeted in 2027,” said SunCable Australia’s MD Cameron Garnsworthy.   

Electricity supply is scheduled to commence in the early 2030s. The promoters expect the project to deliver more than AUD 20 billion in economic value to the Northern Territory, and support a peak workforce of 14,300.

SunCable is also exploring adding wind generation to the solar and storage capacity planned to help drive down the levelized cost of energy for its customers. The planned battery storage capacity will deliver between 36 GWh and 42 GWh capacity.  

Under the ownership of Mike Cannon-Brookes’ Grok Ventures, SunCable operates under 2 project streams: SunCable Australia, responsible for the onshore business; and SunCable International for the offshore business (see Mike Cannon-Brookes Takes Over AAPowerLink Project).