Australia has greenlit a groundbreaking solar and battery farm project in its remote north, calling it the “largest solar precinct in the world.” The ambitious plan, unveiled on Wednesday, includes exporting some of the generated energy to Singapore.
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek highlighted the project’s scale, stating that it will have the capacity to power three million homes. The farm will feature extensive solar panels, advanced batteries, and, eventually, a connection cable linking Australia with Singapore.
“This will be the largest solar precinct globally and positions Australia as a leader in green energy,” Plibersek declared.
Named SunCable, the 12,000-hectare (29,650 acres) development will be located in Australia’s Northern Territory, an area known for its abundant sunshine. Backed by tech billionaire and environmental advocate Mike Cannon-Brookes, the project aims to deliver four gigawatts of energy per hour for domestic use and another two gigawatts to Singapore.
Despite being a major exporter of coal and gas, Australia has faced severe impacts from climate change, including extreme heat, flooding, and bushfires. Although Australians have eagerly adopted household solar panels, government support for renewable energy has been inconsistent.
In 2022, renewable sources accounted for 32% of Australia’s electricity generation, while coal provided 47%, according to the latest government figures.
