Australia approves world’s ‘largest solar precinct'

By Tuba Ongun

The Australian government on Wednesday has approved a massive industrial solar power project in its remote north, described as the "largest solar precinct in the world."

SunCable’s 20 billion Australian dollars ($24 billion) project will generate enough energy to power 3 million homes.

"It will be the largest solar precinct in the world –- and heralds Australia as the world leader in green energy," Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said.

The 12,000-hectare Australia-Asia Power Link project will help turn Australia into a renewable energy superpower, the minister added.

The project, backed by tech billionaire and environmental activist Mike Cannon-Brookes, includes panels, batteries and a 4,300 km subsea cable linking Australia with Singapore.

The project aims to deliver up to 6GW of renewable energy to large-scale industrial customers in both Darwin in the North Australia and Singapore.

In a separate statement, SunCable Australia’s Managing Director Cameron Garnsworthy said: "SunCable will now focus its efforts on the next stage of planning to advance the project towards a final investment decision targeted by 2027."

SunCable will be investing further in communities in the Northern Territory, Singapore and Indonesia to progress the next phase, Garnsworthy added.