WORK has been progressing in recent weeks to advance Sun Cable’s Australian-ASEAN Power Link super project in the Northern Territory, designed to export huge amounts of renewable electricity from Australia to Singapore and Indonesia via subsea cable.

The project has backing from tech billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes and from Andrew Forrest's energy company Squadron, which is also part of consortium called Australian Industrial Energy which is progressing an LNG import terminal in New South Wales. 

The project involves generating three gigawatts of electricity from a 15,000 hectare solar array near Tennant Creek, supported by battery storage, which will then be transported via a 3800km high voltage direct cable to provide one-fifth of Singapore's electricity supply. 

Last week Perth-based Guardian Geomatics was awarded a cable route survey contract by Sun Cable Pty, with plans to use offshore vessel "Offshore Solution" to deliver work starting later this year. 

"Guardian Geomatics are always on the lookout for opportunities to improve our footprint and sustainability - this project is a step in the right direction and something we are very proud of," Guardian Geomatics commercial director Steve Duffield said.  

"Sun Cable is thrilled to have engaged Guardian Geomatics to undertake this critical survey work," Sun Cable CEO David Griffin said. 

Meanwhile, Sun Cable is progressing early contract work for its Middle Arm battery project, ultimately designed to firm up supply from the Power Link. 

Project design is scheduled to start in the third quarter of  this year, with the battery expected to be commissioned and online by the second quarter of 2022. 

The proposed site will be east of the existing Weddell Power Station, with an installed capacity of 50MW scalable to 500MW. 

The project is designed to initially provide active power and ancillary services to the Darwin-Katherine Integrated System.

Source: Energy News Bulletin

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