Australia Approves World’s Largest Solar Hub to Export Energy to Singapore

Australia Approves World’s Largest Solar Hub to Export Energy to Singapore

Australia has given the green light to a groundbreaking solar and battery farm project, which is set to become the largest solar hub globally. The SunCable project, valued at US$24 billion, aims to supply renewable energy to three million Australian homes and export power to Singapore.

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek announced the environmental approval on Wednesday, hailing the project as a major step in positioning Australia as a leader in green energy. “This will be the largest solar precinct in the world,” Plibersek said, emphasizing the project’s global significance.

Slated to begin energy production by 2030, the solar hub will generate four gigawatts of energy for local use, while an additional two gigawatts will be sent to Singapore through an undersea cable. The exported energy would account for about 15 percent of Singapore’s electricity needs.

SunCable managing director Cameron Garnsworthy described the approval as a “landmark moment” in the development of the project, though he noted that several regulatory hurdles remain. The project still requires approvals from Singapore’s energy authorities, the Indonesian government, and Australian Indigenous communities.

Despite these challenges, Garnsworthy confirmed that SunCable would push forward, aiming for a final investment decision by 2027.

The solar hub, backed by tech billionaire and environmental advocate Mike Cannon-Brookes, is part of a global push toward major solar initiatives. Countries like China are also leading the renewable energy charge, with China recently launching its 3.5-gigawatt Midong solar farm.

Australia, while a major exporter of coal and gas, is also making strides toward renewable energy. In 2022, renewables accounted for 32 percent of the nation’s electricity generation, with coal still dominating at 47 percent.

Experts see the SunCable project as a critical move for Australia. Ken Baldwin, Director of the Energy Change Institute at the Australian National University, called it a “world first” for exporting renewable energy at such a large scale. He stressed that more investments like this will be needed for Australia to meet its net-zero targets by 2050.

Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie echoed Baldwin’s sentiments, calling the solar hub a bold step toward making Australia a “clean energy powerhouse.” She emphasized that accelerating renewable energy projects is vital to delivering affordable power and reducing climate pollution as the country moves away from coal-fired stations.

Cannon-Brookes, once skeptical of the project, is now a key investor, describing the venture as a critical step toward transforming Australia’s energy landscape.