At 30 billion Australian dollars, AAPowerLink is one of the world’s largest renewable energy infrastructure projects.
Bechtel, Hatch, Marsh, PwC Australia and SMEC (a member of the Surbana Jurong Group) provide a powerhouse of world-leading expertise - each company across different areas, to drive the future of renewable energy in Australia and the Indo-Pacific:
Bechtel (Project Delivery), one of the world’s most respected engineering, construction and project management companies;
Hatch (HVDC Transmission), a global engineering, project management, and professional services company, and leader in complex engineering solutions;
Marsh (Risk Management), the world’s leading insurance broker and risk advisor;
PwC Australia (Project Advisory), part of the PwC global network, delivering financial advisory, legal, consulting and assurance professional services, comprising an integrated infrastructure offering; and
SMEC (Solar Generation System), a global specialist engineering and design consultancy, and member of the Surbana Jurong Group, a provider of best-in-class infrastructure development solutions.
Each carefully selected company has a proven track record in developing and delivering complex infrastructure projects, together with a strong commitment to renewable energy giga-projects and providing global solutions to achieve net zero targets. Their combined experience across environmental, social and governance frameworks will also be essential in delivering a project of such scale and significance.
The AAPowerLink will create a game-changing, world-first renewable energy infrastructure system. Sun Cable will integrate a range of technologies and infrastructure to develop one of the world’s largest solar farms, to be located in the Northern Territory, Australia (17-20 GWp); the world’s largest battery (36-42 GWh); and the world’s longest undersea High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) cable system from Darwin to Singapore (approx 4,200 km).
The AAPowerLink will be a high-capacity solar generation, storage, and transmission system that will transmit reliable, dispatchable renewable electricity from the Barkly Region of the Northern Territory to Darwin and Singapore markets. Its key components are:
A solar farm precinct including energy storage and voltage source converter (VSC);
A high voltage direct current (HVDC) overhead transmission line (OHTL) from the solar farm to Darwin;
VSC’s and a utility-scale battery in Darwin;
A subsea HVDC cable system from Darwin to Singapore; and
A VSC and utility-scale battery in Singapore.
The project is expected to begin construction from late 2023, with first supply of electricity to Darwin in 2026 and first electricity to Singapore in 2027 (full capacity by end of 2028).
Following the recent granting of the subsea cable route recommendation from the Indonesian Government and approval to undertake the next stage of the subsea cable survey, the appointment of the project management team is the next key milestone in delivering reliable, renewable energy from Australia to Asia.
Sun Cable is developing the AAPowerLink to provide renewable electricity to Darwin, in support of the Northern Territory’s ambition to develop an AUD40 billion economy by 2030. In recognition of partnership with the NT Government, Sun Cable signed a Project Delivery Agreement with the Chief Minister, Michael Gunner MLA, and was granted major project status in Jul 2019. Sun Cable is engaging with the First Nations stakeholders inclusive of Traditional Owners, recognised Native Title Owners, neighbouring communities, and Land Councils.
The AAPowerLink will also be capable of supplying up to 15% of Singapore’s electricity needs, with full capacity available from 2028. Sun Cable’s modelling shows AAPowerLink could reduce Singapore’s emissions by 6 million tonnes per year, matching the entire climate abatement gap in Singapore’s announced 2030 targets.
By unlocking the vast, world-class solar, and land resources that Australia has available, Sun Cable is creating the pathway for a new export industry, generating up to AUD2 billion per annum in exports for Australia, and forecasts the potential to directly and indirectly employ tens of thousands in Australia, Indonesia and Singapore.
“The Australia-Asia PowerLink will inject $8 billion into the Australian economy, with most of it being spent right here in the Northern Territory” said Michael Gunner, Chief Minister, Northern Territory Government. “Sun Cable has established an office in the Territory and employed more than a dozen Darwin firms for initial works. This project continues to build momentum and create more jobs and opportunities for Territorians, and is another massive sign of confidence in the comeback capital.”
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