The Northern Territory government has agreed on a road map for the construction of the world’s largest solar farm.

January 28, 2020

The world’s largest solar farm and battery are another step closer to being built in the Top End after the Northern Territory government agreed on a road map to construction.

The $22 billion Australia-ASEAN Power Link plans to produce 10 gigawatts of electricity – enough to power about three million homes – with most to be exported to Singapore on the world’s longest submarine power cable.

“This puts the project in the fast lane, it’s an agreement on how we will work together in goodwill,” Chief Minister Michael Gunner told reporters on Thursday.

The project is due for completion in 2027 and is likely to create about 1850 jobs and $8 billion dollars invested in the NT.

The link also plans to deliver 800 megawatts of electricity into the Darwin-Katherine power grid as it snakes its way north along the 4500km cable.

“This is genuinely massive. It’ll put the NT on the international map when it comes to renewable energy,” Mr Gunner said.

Energy company Sun Cable also plans to build a 30 gigawatt/hour battery to help smooth power delivery when the sun isn’t shining at the 12,000-hectare solar farm.

However, its yet to secure financing for the project or environmental approvals and access to the planned site at a cattle station near Elliott, 640km south of Darwin.

But chief executive David Griffin says it has talked to stakeholders in Singapore, where electricity sales of up to $1 billion per year are expected.

“They’re enthusiastic about the project (although) there are key criteria we have to meet that is non-negotiable,” he said.