Australia Reaffirms Commitment to SunCable
Australia’s federal government has renewed its support for the SunCable Australia-Asia PowerLink (AAPowerLink) project, reaffirming its status as a nationally significant infrastructure initiative.
In early July 2025, the Australian government officially renewed Major Project Status for SunCable’s AAPowerLink, underscoring continued confidence in the project’s technical and commercial viability. This decision follows a series of regulatory milestones, including environmental approvals from both federal and Northern Territory authorities, and conditional approval from Singapore’s Energy Market Authority for the HVDC interconnector component.
AAPowerLink is set to become the world’s largest renewable energy and transmission project. The plan integrates between 17 and 20 GW of solar generation, combined with 36 to 42 GWh of battery storage. The project’s transmission system will span 5,000 kilometers, including 4,300 kilometers of subsea cable. Its ultimate goal is to deliver up to 4 GW of renewable electricity to Darwin, supporting a new wave of green industrial development, and 1.75 GW to Singapore, which is equivalent to up to 15% of Singapore’s total electricity needs.
Thr system will feature HVDC transmission capable of transporting up to 3 GW from the Northern Territory to Darwin and then via subsea cable to Singapore.
Recent months have seen a cascade of approvals and endorsements. The project has secured environmental approvals from both the Commonwealth and Northern Territory governments, following four years of assessment and public consultation. Singapore’s Energy Market Authority has deemed the project “technically and commercially viable,” granting conditional approval for the HVDC interconnector. Additionally, there is ongoing collaboration with Indonesian authorities to secure subsea cable routing and regulatory compliance.
The final investment decision (FID) is targeted for 2027, with financial close expected in 2028. Construction is anticipated to begin in late 2028 or early 2029. The first power delivery is expected in the early 2030s, with initial supply directed to Darwin’s green industrial precincts, followed by exports to Singapore.
AAPowerLink would now be the world’s longest and most ambitious HVDC subsea project to date, far surpassing existing interconnectors. It will serve as a proving ground for large-scale HVDC mega-projects. The project also presents significant opportunities for engineering, manufacturing, and innovation in converter station design, cable laying, and grid integration.
SunCable’s Managing Director, Cameron Garnsworthy, highlighted the project’s transformative potential, stating that AAPowerLink presents a unique opportunity for the Northern Territory to be at the forefront of this global shift through the development of its world-class renewable energy resources to supply customers in Darwin and Singapore with 24/7 green electricity.
A federal government spokesperson described the initiative as a “generation-defining piece of infrastructure” that “heralds Australia as the world leader in green energy”.
With ongoing government backing, regulatory momentum, and international collaboration, SunCable’s AAPowerLink will set new benchmarks for HVDC transmission and renewable energy integration—offering a blueprint for future intercontinental clean energy corridors.
