SMEC, a member of the Surbana Jurong Group, is joining a team of global experts to deliver the Australia-Asia PowerLink (AAPowerLink), one of the world’s largest renewable energy projects.
Experts joining the Integrated Project Delivery Team (IPDT) of the A$30 billion ($30 billion) project include Bechtel, Hatch, Marsh and PwC Australia.
Australia has the highest average solar radiation per square metre of any continent in the world. By harnessing Australia’s solar energy, the AAPowerLink will be capable of supplying up to 15% of Singapore’s electricity needs, with full capacity available from 2028.
The project is expected to begin construction from late 2023, with the first supply of electricity expected to reach Darwin in 2026 and Singapore in 2027.
According to Sun Cable, the AAPowerLink could reduce Singapore’s emissions by 6 million tonnes per year. Under the Paris Agreement, Singapore aims to peak its emissions at 65 million tonnes by around 2030 before halving that amount by 2050.
The AAPowerLink’s total carbon emissions abatement is estimated at 8.6 million tonnes of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) per year.
See: Australia fast-tracks plan to send solar power to Singapore
“In addition to environmental benefits, the project will bring about the potential for significant revenue generation in Singapore as a carbon and power trading hub, creating future job opportunities in these emerging sectors,” reads a press release on Oct 20.
Sun Cable’s solar farms will be located in Australia’s Northern Territory. In addition, the project will host the world’s largest battery and the world’s longest undersea High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) cable system from Darwin to Singapore, measuring 4,200 km. The Indonesian government approved the undersea cable route in September.
See also: A A$30 billion plan to export solar power from Australia to Singapore clears key hurdle
The project’s key components are a solar farm precinct including energy storage and voltage source converter (VSC), a HVDC overhead transmission line (OHTL) from the solar farm to Darwin, multiple VSCs and a utility-scale battery in Darwin, an undersea HVDC cable system from Darwin to Singapore, and a VSC and utility-scale battery in Singapore.
David Griffin, CEO of Sun Cable, says: “To secure the support of these globally recognised experts is an important vote of confidence in the significance and feasibility of Sun Cable’s Australia-Asia PowerLink. Sun Cable is proud to have the expertise of Bechtel, Hatch, SMEC, Marsh, and PwC Australia reinforcing our team, as we deliver this game-changing infrastructure for Australia, Indonesia and Singapore.”
“This project is designed to significantly accelerate the carbon zero ambitions of the region and we have brought together a dream team to bring it to fruition,” adds Griffin.
Sun Cable is also working with Surbana Jurong on a series of talent development initiatives, starting with sustainability-themed webinars focused on renewable energy.
Organised by SJ Global Academy, Surbana Jurong’s learning and development entity, the series aims to engage the community in building a better future and will be open to students from Institutes of Higher Learning and industry professionals.
Wong Heang Fine, group CEO of Surbana Jurong, says: “Surbana Jurong is very excited to be part of this multi-national project development team whose vision is in step with Singapore’s goal to intensify solar energy deployment.”
“Surbana Jurong pioneered the design and construction of Singapore's critical infrastructure in the early years of nation-building, and is now actively contributing to the ecosystem to find innovative ways to help Singapore transition to cleaner energy, a key goal in the Singapore 2030 Green Plan,” he adds.
“We are confident that the Sun Cable project development partnership will make significant contributions to uplift the level of renewable energy consulting and climate engineering expertise in the region,” says Wong.
Photo: Bloomberg
