Australia–ASEAN Power Link

The Australia–ASEAN Power Link (AAPL), or the Australia–Singapore Power Link (ASPL), is a proposed electricity infrastructure project that is planned to include the world's largest solar plant, the world's largest battery, and the world's longest submarine power cable. A solar farm in Northern Territory, Australia, will produce 10 gigawatts of electricity, most of which will be exported to Singapore by a 4,500 km (2,800 mi) 3GW HVDC transmission line. A 30 GWh battery is planned to store energy to levelize energy availability as sunlight varies throughout the day.[2]

Australia–ASEAN Power Link
CountryAustralia and Singapore
LocationNorthern Territory (solar plant)
StatusPlanned
Commission date2027 (projected)[1]
Construction costA$16 billion (S$15.7 billion)
Owner(s)Sun Cable Singapore
Solar farm
TypeFlat-panel PV
Power generation
Nameplate capacity10,000 MW

The AAPL is being developed by the Singaporean firm Sun Cable and is projected to begin construction in mid-2023, with operation starting in early 2026 and completion by late 2027.[1] The project will add AU$8 billion to the economy of the Northern Territory, then exporting AU$1 billion of electricity every year.[3]

Design

The solar plant would be in the Northern Territory near Elliott in the Barkly Region, using photovoltaic modules designed by Australian company 5B and prefabricated at a proposed factory in Darwin.[2] The solar panels will cover 12,000 ha (30,000 acres) in an area with some of the best solar resources in the world.[4] An 800 km (500 mi) overhead power line will transmit 3 GW to Darwin, where it will transfer to a 3,700 km (2,300 mi) 2.2 GW undersea power line to Singapore.[5]

Batteries at the solar array in Darwin and Singapore will provide load-balancing for continuous daily dispatch.[6]

Singapore produced 95% of its electricity in 2015 from natural gas, but seeks to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.[7] The AAPL could provide about 20% of Singapore's electricity, with no carbon dioxide generation.[5]

Development

The project was initially called the Australia–Singapore Power Link, as the power line will initially connect those two countries, and was renamed to Australia–ASEAN as it may also bring electricity to Indonesia in the future.[8]

Sun Cable intends to secure all financing by late 2023, beginning construction the following year. It is expected to cost AU$22 billion (US$16 billion).[2] Initial investments came from billionaires Mike Cannon-Brookes and Andrew Forrest.[9][10]

In July 2019, the project received major project status from the Northern Territory government, ensuring local support in development and construction.[6] The Australian government awarded the same status in July 2020, expediting construction by facilitating coordination and permitting.[5] Singapore has not yet permitted the project,[5] but benefits for it include long-term electricity price stability, the potential to become a hub for trading renewable electricity in the Southeast Asian power grid,[11] and meeting its agreements to cut emissions under the Paris Agreement.[12]

Undersea surveying will take place in 2020 by Guardian Geomatics.[13]

A project development agreement was signed between Northern Territory and Sun Cable in January 2021, providing for commercial partnership.[3]

Construction is projected to require 1,000 jobs, and operation will have 300 jobs in the Northern Territory.[6]

Australia is already the world's largest exporter of coal, and the AAPL, along with the proposed wind and solar Asian Renewable Energy Hub in the Pilbara, would make it a "green energy exporting superpower."[14]

See also

References
  1. "Power Generation | Singapore | Sun Cable". Sun Cable. 24 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  2. Reuters (2020-07-30). "Australia Fast Tracks Approval Process for $16 Billion Solar Power Export Project". Reuters. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
  3. "Major milestone for world's biggest solar project". pv magazine Australia. Retrieved 2021-01-29.
  4. Morton, Adam (2019-07-14). "'Just a matter of when': the $20bn plan to power Singapore with Australian solar". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-08-05.
  5. Collins, Leigh (29 July 2020). "Australia to fast-track world's largest solar-battery project with grid link to Singapore | Recharge". Recharge | Latest renewable energy news. Retrieved 2020-08-05.
  6. "Australia-Singapore Power Link awarded Major Project Status". Utility Magazine. 2019-07-22. Retrieved 2020-08-05.
  7. Tan, Audrey (2015-07-21). "From The Straits Times Archives: Singapore opts for cleaner energy sources". The Straits Times. Retrieved 2020-08-05.
  8. Morrison, Kevin (30 July 2020). "Canberra backs Australia power link to Singapore". Argus Media. Retrieved 2020-08-05.
  9. "Australian billionaire to fund Singapore subsea cable project". Power Technology | Energy News and Market Analysis. 2019-09-25. Retrieved 2020-08-05.
  10. Keating, Cecilia (Nov 20, 2019). "Billionaires lead funding of 10GW Australia-Singapore power link". PV Tech. Retrieved 2020-08-05.
  11. Pearlman, Jonathan (2019-07-21). "Aussie solar farm project aims to power up S'pore too". The Straits Times. Retrieved 2020-08-05.
  12. Mah, Paul (November 26, 2019). "Reducing the carbon footprint of Singapore". Data Centre Dynamics. Retrieved 2020-08-05.
  13. Chin, Neo Chai (May 29, 2020). "Cable route surveys to begin for Australia-Singapore solar sharing project". Eco-Business. Retrieved 2020-08-05.
  14. Macdonald-Smith, Angela (2020-01-01). "Solar export vision to be put to the test". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 2020-08-05.

Further reading

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