While our federal government drags their feet on climate policy and the state governments and the business community are forced to take the lead, we’re seeing some exciting projects progress. The opportunity for Australia to be a net exporter of green, renewable energy is within reach if some of these projects can be realised.
One of the most ambitious projects is the Sun Cable. Funded by Mike Cannon-Brookes and Twiggy Forrest, this project plans to generate solar energy at a massive solar farm in Darwin and deliver it in Singapore via 4,200km of undersea cable. Once operational (estimated in 2027), the project will supply Singapore with up to 15% of their total electricity needs. For a country that is current reliant on natural gas for its energy needs, projects like this are a big step forward in transforming Singapore’s electricity grid.
The project is also a proof of concept for long-distance distribution. If successful, it is likely that Australia will be able to look at other long-distance distribution projects – taking advantage of our wide open spaces in the top of the country and our proximity to our Asian neighbours. Along with hydrogen, and the possibilities in transporting it after recent CSIRO breakthroughs, projects like this are key to Australia becoming a net energy exporter in the green economy.
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