Cannon-Brookes’ record-breaking solar farm plan gets Plibersek’s tick

Billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes’ moonshot plan to build the biggest solar farm in Australia and export clean energy to Singapore is moving ahead after the Albanese government gave the project environmental approval.

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek approved the SunCable project on Wednesday, the final tick needed to build a 12,000-hectare solar farm, an 800-kilometre transmission line from the middle of the Northern Territory to Darwin and a 4200-kilometre undersea cable to the edge of Australian waters.

The first stage of Mike Cannon-Brookes’ SunCable project has been given environmental approval by the Albanese government.

The project is the most ambitious example of the vision renewable evangelists spruik for Australia, arguing the nation could become an energy superpower by exporting clean electricity and products to the world.

But it still needs permission from Indonesia to extend its undersea cable through its waters to Singapore, and SunCable said it would make a final investment decision in 2027, with electricity supply to begin in the early 2030s.

“Today’s announcement is a vote of confidence in the project and SunCable itself as responsible stewards of the local Northern Territory environment,” said SunCable Australia’s managing director Cameron Garsnworthy.

The project looked as though it might collapse last year after the relationship between its former co-owners, Cannon-Brookes and mining magnate Andrew Forrest, collapsed. The business went into administration, with Cannon-Brookes winning control via his investment vehicle, Grok Ventures, which is now a lead investor.

SunCable’s proposed Australia-Asia PowerLink project.

The first phase of the SunCable project would supply 900 megawatts of electricity to Darwin, which could help develop the city’s industrial base which is already receiving $1.5 billion in federal funds. Ultimately, the goal is to deliver 1750 megawatts of electricity to Singapore.

Should the project go ahead, it will support around 6800 direct and indirect jobs during construction.

“It will be the largest solar precinct in the world – and heralds Australia as the world leader in green energy,” Plibersek said. ​“Not only will this project help turn Australia into a renewable energy superpower, it will be a huge boost for the Northern Territory economy.”

Forrest wanted to build the domestic side of the project but withdrew his support for the power link to Asia, arguing it was not commercially viable. But Grok rescued the project from administration and is committed to the original vision, including the transmission link to Darwin as well as the subsea cable to Singapore.

Plibersek’s approval comes days before the Northern Territory election, to be held on Saturday, and she said her announcement frames a choice between the federal government and the Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s anti-renewables plan.

Dutton has said he supports renewable energy but has also promised to build seven nuclear plants across the country and significantly increase gas use in the electricity grid.

“Australians have a choice between a renewable energy transition that’s already underway creating jobs and driving down prices or paying for an expensive nuclear fantasy that may never happen,” Plibersek said.

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