Australia is laying the groundwork for one of its most ambitious renewable energy infrastructure projects: the Australia-Asia PowerLink (AAPowerLink). Backed by Sun Cable, this proposal aims to build a vast solar farm in the Northern Territory, coupled with large-scale battery storage and a high-voltage transmission network, to serve both domestic customers and export clean energy to Singapore.

What the Project Entails

• A 17–20 GWp solar farm will be built in the Barkly region of the NT, spread over ~12,000 hectares. Infrastructure Australia+2PV Magazine Australia+2

• The plan includes 36–42 GWh of energy storage (battery capacity), enabling near-constant dispatchable power.

• Power will be delivered via an 800 km overhead HVDC transmission line to Darwin, and a ~4,200 km subsea HVDC cable to Singapore. SMEC+2PV Magazine Australia+2

• According to Infrastructure Australia, the project is on the national “Priority List” due to its potential to lower emissions and drive economic growth.

Why It Matters: For Australia & Beyond

Domestic Impact

• The project could provide cheaper electricity to the Northern Territory while reducing reliance on gas-fired plants. Infrastructure Australia+1

• The Northern Territory stands to benefit economically: estimates suggest several thousand jobs during construction. Green Review

• It would also help Australia meet longer-term climate goals by providing large-scale, dispatchable renewable energy.

Export Potential

• AAPowerLink isn’t only domestic: it's designed to export clean solar power to Singapore via that undersea cable. sustainabilitymatters.net.au

• Singapore’s Energy Market Authority has given conditional approval for the plan, signalling strong technical and commercial viability. Reuters+1

• Infrastructure Australia’s business-case evaluation suggests the exports could form a new green electricity export industry, driving economic activity in northern Australia.

Challenges & Risks

• Environmental concerns: Approval came with strict conditions. For example, native wildlife conservation — such as greater bilbies, must be respected. The Guardian+1

• Social licence: A study by Charles Darwin University found that while a large majority supports the project, some local stakeholders are wary of exporting too much energy without domestic benefit. PV Magazine Australia

• Investment risk: The final investment decision is expected around 2027. While approvals are in place, there remain technical, commercial, and regulatory hurdles before construction begins. Green Review+1

Economic & Strategic Significance

• The Northern Territory government and the Australian federal government have both flagged this project as strategic for economic development in the north.

• Infrastructure Australia’s evaluation showed a potential benefit-cost ratio of around 2.4, assuming commercial offtake agreements can be secured.

• The project could become a cornerstone for green exports, helping Australia leverage its solar potential and become a renewable energy superpower.

Where Things Stand Now

• The environmental approval was granted in August 2024, a major step forward. Minister for the Environment+2PV Magazine Australia+2

• According to SMEC (technical partner), engineering is advancing, but full-scale deployment may take several years.

• A final investment decision (FID) could come by 2027, with initial power delivery potentially in the early 2030s.

Bigger Picture: Innovation & Sustainability

The Australia-Asia PowerLink symbolizes a bold turn in how Australia thinks about its solar opportunity. Rather than just generating solar power for local use, it's designing a system to store, transmit, and export renewable electricity at a scale unprecedented in the Southern Hemisphere.

If realized, it could transform the Northern Territory into a hub of green infrastructure and global clean-energy export, redefining Australia’s role in the energy transition.

Key Take-Aways

1. Scale & ambition: One of the largest proposed solar + battery systems globally.

2. Export potential: A path to deliver Australian solar electricity into Southeast Asia.

3. Economic opportunity: Jobs, investment, and strategic growth in the NT.

4. Risk & timeline: Significant regulatory, social, and commercial hurdles remain.

5. Climate impact: Potential to reduce emissions and boost renewable supply for both local and international markets.