Sun Cable announces Global Expert Team to deliver the Australia-Asia PowerLink Project
October 20, 2021
- A world-leading team of highly skilled experts from Bechtel, Hatch, Marsh, PwC Australia and SMEC (Surbana Jurong Group), have assembled to deliver this multi gigawatt scale project.
- The Australia-Asia PowerLink (AAPowerLink) will be one of the world’s largest renewable energy projects and will harness Australia’s abundant solar energy resource to deliver world-class dispatchable, competitively priced renewable electricity into Darwin, Australia and Singapore.
- The AAPowerLink will unlock direct investment and job opportunities, R&D, knowledge sharing, and open up future growth in new and emerging industries.
- The AAPowerLink’s total carbon emissions abatement is estimated at 8.6 million tonnes of CO2e per year.
One of the world’s largest renewable energy infrastructure projects, the AUD30+ Billion Australia-Asia PowerLink (AAPowerLink), which will supply renewable electricity to Darwin and Singapore, reaches another milestone with the announcement of the Integrated Project Delivery Team (IPDT).
Bechtel, Hatch, Marsh, PwC Australia and SMEC (a member of the Surbana Jurong Group) provide a powerhouse of world-leading expertise - each company across different areas, to drive the future of renewable energy in Australia and the Indo-Pacific:
- Bechtel (Project Delivery), one of the world’s most respected engineering, construction and project management companies;
- Hatch (HVDC Transmission), a global engineering, project management, and professional services company, and leader in complex engineering solutions;
- Marsh (Risk Management), the world’s leading insurance broker and risk advisor;
- PwC Australia (Project Advisory), part of the PwC global network, delivering financial advisory, legal, consulting and assurance professional services, comprising an integrated infrastructure offering; and
- SMEC (Solar Generation System), a global specialist engineering and design consultancy, and member of the Surbana Jurong Group, a provider of best-in-class infrastructure development solutions.
Each carefully selected company has a proven track record in developing and delivering complex infrastructure projects, together with a strong commitment to renewable energy giga-projects and providing global solutions to achieve net zero targets. Their combined experience across environmental, social and governance frameworks will also be essential in delivering a project of such scale and significance.
The AAPowerLink will create a game-changing, world-first renewable energy infrastructure system. Sun Cable will integrate a range of technologies and infrastructure to develop one of the world’s largest solar farms, to be located in the Northern Territory, Australia (17-20 GWp); the world’s largest battery (36-42 GWh); and the world’s longest undersea High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) cable system from Darwin to Singapore (approx 4,200 km).
The AAPowerLink will be a high-capacity solar generation, storage, and transmission system that will transmit reliable, dispatchable renewable electricity from the Barkly Region of the Northern Territory to Darwin and Singapore markets. Its key components are:
- a solar farm precinct including energy storage and voltage source converter (VSC);
- a high voltage direct current (HVDC) overhead transmission line (OHTL) from the solar farm to Darwin;
- VSC’s and a utility-scale battery in Darwin;
- a subsea HVDC cable system from Darwin to Singapore; and
- a VSC and utility-scale battery in Singapore.
The project is expected to begin construction from late 2023, with first supply of electricity to Darwin in 2026 and first electricity to Singapore in 2027 (full capacity by end of 2028).
Following the recent granting of the subsea cable route recommendation from the Indonesian Government and approval to undertake the next stage of the subsea cable survey, the appointment of the project management team is the next key milestone in delivering reliable, renewable energy from Australia to Asia.
Sun Cable is developing the AAPowerLink to provide renewable electricity to Darwin, in support of the Northern Territory’s ambition to develop an AUD40 billion economy by 2030. In recognition of partnership with the NT Government, Sun Cable signed a Project Delivery Agreement with the Chief Minister, Michael Gunner MLA, and was granted major project status in Jul 2019. Sun Cable is engaging with the First Nations stakeholders inclusive of Traditional Owners, recognised Native Title Owners, neighbouring communities, and Land Councils.
The AAPowerLink will also be capable of supplying up to 15% of Singapore’s electricity needs, with full capacity available from 2028. Sun Cable’s modelling shows AAPowerLink could reduce Singapore’s emissions by 6 million tonnes per year, matching the entire climate abatement gap in Singapore’s announced 2030 targets.
By unlocking the vast, world-class solar, and land resources that Australia has available, Sun Cable is creating the pathway for a new export industry, generating up to AUD2 billion per annum in exports for Australia, and forecasts the potential to directly and indirectly employ tens of thousands in Australia, Indonesia and Singapore.
Quote attributable to David Griffin, CEO, Sun Cable
“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.”
Quote attributable to Scott Osborne, SVP & GM Infrastructure - Asia Pacific, Bechtel
“Bechtel is excited to join Sun Cable’s impressive team as it sets out to deliver this world-leading solar project.
“During our almost 70 years in Australia, we’ve worked on some of the nation’s largest and most complex energy projects, so look forward to our continued involvement as Australia strives to become a renewables superpower.”
Quote attributable to Robert Francki, Global Managing Director Energy, Hatch
“As we shift to a low carbon world, projects like the AAPowerLink are vitally important to transforming how we generate and distribute power. We’re confident this partnership will deliver positive change and unprecedented results to Singapore. Hatch is thrilled to be a part of the consortium and this monumental project, which will prove to the world that this type of enormous generation and long-distance distribution is possible, and will in fact be critical to the world’s energy transition.”
Quotes attributable to Surbana Jurong & SMEC ANZ
James Phillis, CEO, SMEC Australia and New Zealand
“At SMEC, we’re proud to continue our legacy as trailblazers in the renewables sector. SMEC has its origins in the iconic Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Scheme and we have ever since continued our renewables journey, becoming leaders in solar and hydro-electricity. From inception, we have partnered with our clients to help them transition to a more renewable future.
The Australia-Asia PowerLink will be the world’s largest solar energy infrastructure network and will be a game-changer for the renewable energy sector worldwide. As a member of the project delivery team, SMEC is excited to be a critical force in bringing this project to life – as a key technical partner SMEC will be harnessing our solar and renewables expertise and innovation to deliver a project of this size, scale and importance. I’m proud that SMEC is once again playing a key role in redefining the future of renewable energy.”
Hari Poologasundram, CEO SMEC and CEO International, Surbana Jurong
“Global challenges across the energy landscape require bold, innovative and multinational solutions. We’re proud to partner with the PDP and with our colleagues at Surbana Jurong to bring together the experience, skills and expertise required to deliver this project. It’s exciting to play our part in another game-changing renewable energy scheme that will make a difference to many communities.”
Wong Heang Fine, Group CEO, Surbana Jurong
“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.
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.”
Quotes attributable to Nick Harris, Chief Executive Officer – Pacific, Marsh
“We are excited to be part of the team helping to deliver AAPowerLink, which represents a seismic shift in the way Australia exports energy to the world. By harnessing Australia’s position as the G20’s highest per capita solar source, this project will deliver a large volume of renewable energy over a longer distance than ever before.
“For 150 years, Marsh has been working with innovators like Sun Cable to turn plans into reality. This transformative yet challenging project represents an important milestone in accelerating the energy transition in the Asia Pacific region and further develops the huge potential of electricity grid interconnector technology.
“Sun Cable’s proactive approach to risk management should ensure that challenges are addressed early and effectively, reducing the risk of delay. Our global team of experts looks forward to collaborating with the wider delivery team.”
Quotes attributable to Tom Seymour, CEO, PwC Australia
“We are so proud to be helping harness Australia’s rich sunshine to power thousands of businesses and communities across Australia and Singapore. This complex and ambitious project is unlike anything previously developed. It will make a generational impact on Australia and Singapore.”
“AAPowerLink is spread across three jurisdictions, including Singapore and Indonesia, and requires a new and innovative project delivery team model to get it done. We are delighted to be joining forces with four highly-regarded global firms to bring AAPowerLink to life.”
“AAPowerLink will help solve Australia’s carbon emissions footprint, provide once-in-a-lifetime economic opportunities for communities including First Nations Peoples across the Northern Territory and supply chain businesses across Australia. It will pave the way for a new Australian export industry that will create jobs and change lives.”
Media Contact:
All media enquiries: media@suncable.sg
Australian media: LJ Loch: lj.loch@suncable.sg
Phone: +61 488 038 555
Singapore media: Gaynor Reid: gaynor.reid@suncable.sg
Phone +65 9108 3577
Please visit for further information:
Sun Cable website - www.suncable.sg
AAPowerLink website - www.aapowerlink.sg
About Sun Cable
Sun Cable is an Australian-founded, world changing renewable energy company. It is focused on making use of Australia’s abundant solar resource to power the Indo-Pacific region with competitively priced, dispatchable, high volume renewable electricity. The AAPowerLink project is the first of its kind and the first of many.
Sun Cable’s energy projects will position Australia, Singapore and other markets in Asia as world leaders in intercontinental transmission of renewable electricity. These projects will facilitate the electrification of new and existing industries, supporting large-scale economic development, whilst reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Sun Cable’s Australia-Asia PowerLink Project
Electricity demand is set to double in the region in the next 20 years to circa 2,000 terawatt-hours (TWh), an annual growth rate of nearly 4%, almost twice as fast as the rest of the world.
Australia has the highest average solar radiation per square metre of any continent in the world. The AAPowerLink will harness Australia’s abundant solar resources to meet growing electricity demand. It will do that by generating, storing and transmitting renewable electricity to Darwin and Singapore, via the world’s largest renewable electricity transmission network. AAPowerLink integrates solar, battery, and HVDC technologies to establish a transformational renewable energy transmission grid that will provide Darwin and Singapore with competitively priced, dispatchable, high volume renewable electricity. This is possible because of Sun Cable’s innovative integration of three major technology groups, all of which have benefited from an ongoing transformation in solar PV, batteries, and HVDC transmission.
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