What Singapore really thinks of Australian solar power export plan
It has unrivalled ambition and is backed by a tech billionaire, but Sun Cable's plans to export solar power to Singapore are floundering.
Australia and Singapore lie far apart, separated by a considerable 3,400 kilometers. Despite this vast distance, an Australian energy firm called Sun Cable is attempting to construct the world's longest underwater electrical cable to harness solar power in Australia's Top End and supply Singapore's 6 million residents. The ambitious $35 billion project would encompass the construction of solar panels, equivalent to 10 gigawatts across an area twice the size of Manhattan, along with large-scale battery storage.
The majority of the generated electricity would be conveyed over 800 kilometers from Darwin in Australia to Singapore.
Singapore's energy demand is immense, fueled primarily by air conditioning and industrial usage. The city-state aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and is already taking steps in the direction of utilizing renewable energy sources. Solar power currently accounts for only 3% of Singapore's electricity generation, with the remainder derived from natural gas imports.
To meet its ambitious carbon neutrality goal, Singapore is exploring the possibility of importing up to 6 gigawatts of clean energy from the region by 2035.
Sun Cable appears to be one of many potential solutions Singapore is considering. Christophe Inglin, from the Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore, noted that the island nation would likely have to import electricity like it has traditionally imported fossil fuels. He further explained that the network would require transmission cables instead of pipelines.
While Singapore currently obtains some electricity from Malaysia through a high-voltage transmission line, the volume remains minimal. The establishment of a regional super grid that incorporates hydro power from Laos, wind from Vietnam, and vast solar resources from Malaysia and Indonesia could potentially address Singapore's renewable energy needs.
However, the success of Sun Cable hinges on several challenges, including the subsea cable's feasibility, the geopolitical risks involved, and Singapore's willingness to rely on a single source for its electricity needs.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
