Sun Cable solar project agreement signed with NT Government | NT Independent

Sun Cable solar project agreement signed with NT Government

by | Jan 28, 2021 | Business | 18 comments

Singapore-based Sun Cable and the NT Government have signed a milestone agreement to facilitate the Australia-ASEAN Power Link (AAPL), that will see up to $8 billion invested into the Territory as it hosts one of the world’s largest renewable energy systems.

The project includes a solar and storage precinct near Elliott, in the Barkly Region, high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission connecting the precinct to the Darwin-Katherine Interconnected System (DKIS) and proposed Middle Arm Battery and an HVDC submarine link to Singapore.

While the agreement has been signed between Sun Cable and the NT Government, Singapore officials have still not signed up until the company can assure the city-state’s government the reliability is equal to the level of reliability in which they are accustomed.

The 70-year, $22 billion project will create about 1500 jobs during construction and 350 jobs during operations, as well as over $1 billion in exports, the company said.

Sun Cable CEO David Griffin said the AAPL project would generate and transmit dispatchable, competitively priced, renewable energy at scale.

“This will provide affordable, reliable energy to support industrial growth in Darwin, as well as supplying up to 20 per cent of Singapore’s electricity needs,” he said.

“The Australia-ASEAN Power Link project will help the Northern Territory make deep cuts to its emissions intensity by decoupling economic growth from carbon pollution,” he said.

He told the ABC he was confident the company would show the Singapore government that the reliability of supply will be sufficient.

The company has also laid-out some of the positives of the project, which include a substantial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the NT, Australia and the Indo-Pacific, helping the Territory achieve its goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Sun Cable said it will prepare a Territory Benefits Plan, including an Aboriginal workforce development plan and local participation strategy to maximise local jobs and procurement.

It added that they have engaged Darwin company EcOz to prepare its Environmental Impact Statement for the project.

“The project has drawn on the services of another dozen Territory companies, covering environmental services, ecological and geotechnical surveys, architecture, legal, strategic communication and Maintenance,” Mr Griffin said.

The NT government expects that by 2027, the AAPL will have the capacity to provide a significant amount of renewable energy for the Territory, as well as up to 20 per cent of Singapore’s electricity supply.

“Once up and running, it’s estimated the project will export $1 billion dollars’ worth of solar electricity each year,” the government said.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner said the project will put the NT on the international map when it comes to renewables.

“It will also see hundreds of Territorians find work in the Barkly and Darwin regions during the construction and operational phases.

“This project will transform the Territory into a renewable energy powerhouse, and cement our position as Australia’s comeback capital,” Mr Gunner said.

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18 Comments

  1. I suggest you ask if anybody in Singapore is interested in this, do they want a cable that goes across one of the worst earthquake areas in the world and than through Indonesian waters and presumably the power will be intermittent, does anybody in Singapore even know about this?.

      • So the answer is that the Singapore Government has not committed to a scheme where the producing assets have a very short life span.

        • The answer is they started talking to the Singapore Government and their retail suppliers about the project in 2019. I’m very sure there is a great deal more work to do on an exciting opportunity for the NT.

          • Mate in 2019 they had a paid up capital of $100, lets see Gunners whole agreement and check for subsidies

          • Come back to us when you have something to say of your own, renewables are wildly expensive and are getting worse as intermittent supply is no longer acceptable

          • You really have no idea, are you a Green politician?

          • Nope just in interested bystander who supports sustainable development

          • Who obviously knows nothing about it, subsidies are not sustainable

          • I’ll let the Phil and Feds know!

          • Go troll someone else you silly little man

          • Bad mouth the Gov sure I do too but be positive when justified! I suggest you start to have a look around at what is happening in the world and update your information surrounding industry and the change to a better smarter future, Good chat!

          • I have a better idea for you, move to South Australia or California where your dream is being fulfilled and see if you can afford the power bill for interrmittent power.

          • I’m happy to point out the positives and let the reports do their job’s “there pretty good at it”. As for unsubstantiated claims, not my bag. But saying renewables are wildly expensive is quite inaccurate.

  2. And the reservation % is locked at what?

  3. It would be interesting to see temperatures before and after that.

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