Sun Cable secures lineup for energy venture

Sun Cable has hired a suite of global companies including PwC, Bechtel and SMEC to deliver a $30 billion solar project designed to supply renewable energy to Australia and Singapore. 

The Tattarang-backed Australia-Asia PowerLink Project today confirmed its project delivery team for the venture, which is tipped to become one of the world’s largest renewable energy projects.  

Sun Cable’s AAPowerLink will be comprised of a solar farm in the Northern Territory and a high voltage direct current (HVDC) overhead transmission line from the solar farm to Darwin.

Darwin will also host a voltage source converter and a utility scale battery and mark the starting point for a subsea HVDC cable system from Darwin to Singapore.

A voltage source converter and a utility scale battery will also be constructed in Singapore.

US-based engineering company Bechtel has been appointed to oversee project delivery, while Surbana Jurong-owned SMEC will be responsible for the solar generation system.

Fellow engineering global Hatch will deliver the high-voltage direct current undersea cable system set to span 4,200 kilometres between Darwin and Singapore.

The system is expected to be the largest in the world once completed.

Big four representative PwC will provide advisory and legal services, while Marsh will oversee risk.

Sun Cable chief executive David Griffin said securing the team was a vote of confidence in the Australia-Asia PowerLink.

“Sun Cable is proud to have the expertise of Bechtel, Hatch, SMEC, Marsh, and PwC Australia reinforcing our team, as we deliver this game-changing infrastructure for Australia, Indonesia and Singapore,” he said.

“This project is designed to significantly accelerate the carbon zero ambitions of the region and we have brought together a dream team to bring it to fruition.”

Construction is expected to begin from late 2023, with a Darwin tipped to receive its first supply of electricity in 2026 and Singapore in 2027.

The project is tipped to reach full capacity by the end of 2028.