Sun Cable: Plibersek approves first stage of world’s biggest solar and battery project

Federal environment minister Tanya Plibersek has given approval for the first stage of what will be the biggest renewable and storage project in the world, the Sun Cable Australia-Power Link.

The approval includes the 800 kms transmission link to Darwin from the pastoral property near Elliott in the Northern Territory, and will allow for up to 10 gigawatts of solar and battery storage to be built, providing up to 4 GW of 24/7 green power.

The approval also includes a sub sea cable to the limit of Australian waters, in anticipation that the second stage of the project will export low cost wind and solar to Singapore and other nations, and reach up to 6 GW of continuous green power generation.

The Sun Cable project is backed by software billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes, and was originally centred around a plan to build 20 GW of solar and up to 42 GWh of battery storage, and supply Singapore via a 4,200 kms sub sea cable.

Those plans have changed, firstly after a falling out with another green billionaire, Andrew Forrest, who wanted the project to focus on green hydrogen opportunities. Then, after bringing in Australian based Quinbrook Infrastructure, the shape of the project has changed again.

It is now likely to be split between solar and wind, with up to around 12 GW of each technology, which will require less battery storage as the wind will produce during the evening.

The project is now divided into clear stages, with the first focusing on supplying new green industries that are expected to be created around Darwin, and particularly in the Middle Harbour precinct.

The federal approvals relate to the first stage, which will provide an initial 900 MW of continuous power into Darwin, growing to 4 GW, from the solar and battery arrays that will be built on a former pastoral station between Elliot and Tennant Creek.

The longer term plan is to provide a further 1.7 GW of continuous power to Singapore via the sub-sea cable. The final project metrics will be decided after more studies on the wind resource, and potential customers, and will be subject to further environmental approvals.

​Plibersek says the project will be economically and socially transformational for the Northern Territory, and will enable green manufacturing sector to emerge in Darwin, and produce renewable solar power for potential export to Singapore. and provide a long-term source of ongoing employment in remote areas.

“This massive project is a generation-defining piece of infrastructure. It will be the largest solar precinct in the world – and heralds Australia as the world leader in green energy,” Plibersek said in a statement.

​“Not only will this project help turn Australia into a renewable energy superpower, it will be a huge boost for the Northern Territory economy.”

The minister also used the occasion to berate Opposition leader Peter Dutton’s nuclear plan, saying it would generate “six times more” than a 700 MW nuclear facility.

And she might have pointed out that the solar would be vastly cheaper, and funded by private interests – which simply does not and will not happen with nuclear, because of the high costs and risks.

“We have no idea what the equivalent to Peter Dutton’s anti-renewables nuclear plan might be because there are no details other than it being too slow and too expensive Australia,” Plibersek said in the statement.

The approval comes with strict conditions to protect nature including requirements to completely avoid important species like the Greater Bilby and critical habitat.

It comes a month after the NT Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) also gave environmental approval for up to 10 gigawatts of solar and storage and the the transmission line and associated infrastructure.

Sun Cable says the environmental approvals mean it can move ahead with development, commercial, and engineering activities needed to get to a final investment division in 2027. Electricity production is expected for the 2030s. 

“Sun Cable is a company founded on a vision to help decarbonise the planet,” said CEO Cameron Garnsworthy.

“Today’s announcement is a vote of confidence in the project and Sun Cable itself as responsible stewards of the local Northern Territory environment.

“SunCable will now focus its efforts on the next stage of planning to advance the project towards a Final Investment Decision targeted by 2027.”

Note: This story has been updated to clarify the project capacity numbers included in the minister’s press release.