Australia-Asia Power Link (AAPowerLink)
SunCable’s flagship development project, AAPowerLink, will harness and store renewable energy from one of the world's most reliably sunny places – Australia’s Northern Territory – for 24/7 transmission to Darwin and Singapore through a high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission system.
The project proposes to develop the world’s largest renewable energy generation and battery storage precint in the heart of the Northern Territory, and a 5,000km high voltage direct current (HVDC) system, to deliver up to 6GW of 24/7 green electricity to industrial customers in Darwin and Singapore.
Around 4GW of this electricity will be transmitted to Darwin to underpin a new wave of green industrial development in emerging green industries such as hydrogen, e-fuels, green minerals, data centres, and other processing and manufacturing opportunities.
SunCable is working with the Indonesian Government as a key partner to agree a subsea cable route through Indonesian waters, following a path of minimal impact to the natural environment. This will support a further 2GW of transcontinental transmission to deliver a flat load of 1.75GW to Singapore.
AAPowerLink will integrate wind, solar and battery capacity at scale, to supply industrial customers with a flat load profile of 24/7 renewable electricity.
Impact and delivery
AAPowerLink will harness the NT’s world-class renewable energy potential to position Australia, Indonesia, and Singapore as leaders in the global shift to renewable electricity. AAPowerLink is a once in a generation scale infrastructure project, backed by a compelling scientific, economic and social evidence base that is set to deliver a triple win for the Asia-Pacific Region.
Key benefits across the three countries include:
Australia:
- Around AUD $8bn investment to Australia during the construction phase
- Around AUD $20bn investment into the Northern Territory across the first 40 years of construction and operation.
- Creation of a significant number of jobs in the Northern Territory:
○ 1,750 direct jobs during construction
○ around 6,800 jobs during each year of construction
○ around 350 long-term operational jobs
- Supply of up to 4GW of renewable electricity to industrial customers in Darwin to underpin a new wave of green industrial development in Northern Australia.
- Creation of a new renewable energy export market for Australia
- Development of green energy supply chains at scale.
Indonesia:
- Around USD$2.5bn investment to Indonesia over the lifetime of the project
- Creation of around 7,500 jobs in Indonesia
- Support for local industry and procurement
- Local capacity building and development of the future workforce through ~5,000 knowledge sharing participants.
Singapore:
- Diversification of renewable energy supply and increased energy security through supply of 1.75GW renewable electricity
- Support for Singapore’s internationally recognised position as a business and digital hub through 24/7 supply to customers in technology, data centres, and heavy industry.
- Abatement of 6Mt in CO2 per annum to support Singapore’s goal to reach net zero emissions by 2050.
AUD ~$8billion investment in Australia
Up to 1,750 direct jobs
Around 350 long term operational jobs
Around 6,800 indirect jobs during construction
Environmental and Social Peformance
SunCable is committed to delivering beneficial outcomes for the environment and society. We achieve this by embedding environmental and social considerations into our development and commercial decision-making processes. We aim to protect the local environment, and the people and communities that live and work near our project areas.
AAPowerLink Project Environmental Approvals
The AAPowerLink Project went through a rigorous environmental impact assessment process under the NT Environment Protection Act 2019 and the Environment Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Approvals secured in mid-2024 are posted below.
NT Environmental Approval - EP2020-002-001 - 14 July 2024
Commonwealth EPBC2020-8818 Approval - 19 August 2024
Environmental Compliance
As a condition of the AAPowerLink EPBC Approval, SunCable is required to submit Annual Compliance Reports on each anniversary of the approval. Compliance reports submitted to the Regulator are posted below.
2025AnnualComplianceReport-AAPowerLink_EPBC2020-8818.pdf
Community Sponsorship Program
SunCable is committed to building regional partnerships, providing local benefits, and investing in the communities where we work. Our NT Community Sponsorship Program offers funding of $500-$3000 per application for community-led projects and activities in the AAPowerLink Project footprint and surrounding areas. The program guidelines and eligibility requirements, and application form are posted below.
Community Sponsorship Program Guidelines
Community Sponsorship Application Form
DarwinLink
DarwinLink is the Australian component of AAPowerLink; establishing a GW scale renewable energy industry in northern Australia, and supplying Australian industrial customers with 24/7 renewable electricity. This will unlock green industrial development and export opportunities in Northern Australia. The project will develop the world largest integrated renewable energy and storage precinct in the Barkly region of the Northern Territory, and an 800km overhead transmission system to supply up to 4GW of 24/7 renewable electricity to industrial customers in Darwin.
DarwinLink expects to make Final Investment Decision (FID) in 2027 and commence a four year construction phase from 2028. Once complete, DarwinLink will have an operating life of 70 years.
The development of Australia’s renewable energy resource at scale provides the opportunity to be a global leader in the energy transition. The project will deliver significant social and economic benefits during its development, construction and operational phases. During construction it will inject AUD$8bn into Australia, create 1,750 direct jobs and up to 12,000 indirect jobs. The project will necessitate the development of a renewable energy supply chain at scale, creating enormous opportunity for Australian businesses. Supply of up to 4GW of firmed power will stimulate green industrial development in Northern Australia and underpin multiple new export markets.
DarwinLink has its regional headquarters in Darwin, Northern Territory. Grok Ventures has appointed Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners (QIP) as a development partner for DarwinLink. QIP have a proven track record of delivering large-scale renewable projects in the USA and UK, adding further global expertise to the DarwinLink project.
SingaporeLink
SingaporeLink is the international transmission component of AAPowerLink. It encompasses 4,300km High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) subsea cable system from Darwin, through Indonesia to supply Singapore with 1.75GW of 24/7 renewable electricity.
SunCable is working with the Indonesian Government to agree a route for the subsea cable system to traverse Indonesian waters, following a path of minimal impact to the natural environment. This will enable 2GW of transcontinental transmission to deliver 1.75GW of 24/7 renewable electricity to industrial customers in Singapore. This supply will meet almost 10 per cent of Singapore’s total electricity needs and provide resilience to Singapore’s grid through diversity in its country of origin and technology mix (which is currently 95 per cent gas and seeking reduction.
SunCable has regional offices in Singapore and Indonesia to facilitate the development of the project in these jurisdictions.
