SYDNEY, Aug 21(V7N)- Australia has given the green light to a massive solar and battery farm project, dubbed the "largest solar precinct in the world," which will export energy to Singapore. The US$24 billion SunCable project, located in Australia's remote northern region, has received environmental approvals and is expected to power around three million homes.

Backed by tech billionaire and green activist Mike Cannon-Brookes, the project will feature a vast array of solar panels, batteries, and a future undersea cable linking Australia with Singapore. Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek hailed the project as a significant milestone, positioning Australia as a global leader in green energy. Energy production is anticipated to commence by 2030.

Spanning 12,000 hectares (29,650 acres), the solar farm is expected to generate four gigawatts of energy per hour for domestic consumption, with an additional two gigawatts sent to Singapore via the undersea cable, supplying approximately 15 percent of the city-state's energy needs. The batteries will have a storage capacity of about 40 gigawatts.

Cameron Garnsworthy, SunCable Australia's managing director, described the approval as a "landmark moment" for the project's development. However, further approvals are needed, including from Singapore's energy market authority, Indonesia's government, and Australian Indigenous communities. Cannon-Brookes indicated that the focus would now shift towards the next stage of planning, with a final investment decision targeted by 2027.

Australia, a major exporter of coal and gas, has been severely impacted by climate change, experiencing extreme heat, floods, and bushfires. While Australians are enthusiastic adopters of household solar panels, the country has been slower to fully embrace large-scale renewable energy projects. In 2022, renewables accounted for 32 percent of Australia's total electricity generation, compared to 47 percent from coal.

Amanda McKenzie, CEO of the Climate Council, praised the SunCable project as a bold move towards making Australia a "clean energy powerhouse." She emphasized the importance of such initiatives in providing affordable energy and reducing climate pollution, particularly as the country moves away from coal-fired power stations. This project also marks a significant step for Cannon-Brookes, who has expanded his investments from co-founding software company Atlassian to the renewable energy sector, including a stake in AGL Energy.