Planning deal signed for massive Australia-Singapore solar power link
The government of Australia’s Northern Territory (NT) has signed a key planning agreement for a power link project that will enable electricity exports to Singapore from a 10-GW solar-plus-storage project.
The so-called Australia-ASEAN Power Link (AAPL) power link project was proposed by Singapore’s Sun Cable Pty Ltd and envisages building a solar photovoltaic (PV) complex, coupled with about 30 GWh of energy storage, and exporting power via a 3,750-km (2,330-mile) undersea transmission cable. The project development agreement, announced by the NT government on Thursday, will help finalise the required land tenure and commercial arrangements for the AUD-22-billion (USD 16.8m/EUR 13.9m) project before it achieves financial close in October 2023.
“This project will transform the Territory into a renewable energy powerhouse, and cement our position as Australia’s comeback capital,” said NT chief minister Michael Gunner.
NT’s Barkly region will accommodate the solar-plus-storage park, with construction slated to begin straight after financial close has been reached. Once up and running, it will supply electricity to both Darwin and Singapore via a High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) cable. Annual power supplies worth AUD 1 billion will be exported and cover up to 20% of Singapore’s electricity needs, according to the project plan.
The complex is expected to become fully operational by 2027.
Source :renewablesnow
