The South Pacific wants to follow in Europe’s footsteps and become a world reference in solar energy. To do this, it has started a large-scale project that includes a transoceanic transfer.
Australia it is one of the most important solar radiation receptors in the world, but this capacity is not being properly used at this time.
However, projects as ambitious as the Sun Cablethe company that features Mike Cannon-Brookes, owner of Grok Ventures, and Andrew Forrest, owner of Squadron Energy, wants to change that.
Large-scale solar deployment of up to 20 GW is anticipated, supported by up to 42 GWh of battery storage
And it is that Sun Cable has revealed an amazing and ambitious project through which it not only aspires to produce a significant amount of renewable solar energy, but also wants to transfer part of it to more than 4000 kilometers away, specifically to Singapore.
This makes this project the largest of its kind in the world, as it foresees a large-scale solar deployment of up to 20 GW in Powell Creek, north of the municipality of Tennant Creek (northern Australia). In addition, this large solar park will be backed by up to 42 GWh of battery storage.
Supply power to Darwin and Singapore
The solar plant we are talking about is located at 800 km. south of Darwin city, to which the produced electricity will arrive. But the project does not end there, as Australia wants to become a supplier of renewable energy to the South Pacific or even the rest of the world in the longer term.
Sun Cable’s solar megaproject, which will link Australia and Singapore.
Therefore, the 6.4 GW transmission line (gigawatts) will run up to 600 kV (kilovolts) for the 800 km trip to Darwin, but will then continue on to Singapore via a 4,200 km submarine cable. All this will be complemented by converter stations in both destinations, as well as additional energy storage in Darwin.
A great facility on Powell Creek
The project foresees the construction of a 12,000-hectare labor camp for 1,100 people at the headquarters of the solar farm, Powell Creek, where after four years of work around 200 people will remain to operate the installation.
The environmental forecasts of the project indicate a reduction of 480 million tons of greenhouse gases. That is, the equivalent of the average electricity used by more than 2.5 million Australian homes each year during the life of the project (70 years).
Not only that, but 1,750 construction jobs are anticipated to be created at Powell Creek, in addition to another 350 long-term operational jobs.
The solar enclosure will have a maximum generation capacity between 17 and 20 GWand Sun Cable expects to begin construction of the solar park in early 2024. In addition, the company claims to be working to mitigate potential environmental impact, including that which may occur in the seasonal swamp to the southwest, as it has significant value as Aboriginal habitat.
Source:
Sun Cable
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Photos: Sun Cable