Renewable energy company SunCable has reached an agreement with traditional owners to build the biggest solar farm in Australia.
SunCable, traditional owners and the Northern Land Council reached a 70-year agreement to build a 12,000-hectare solar farm on Powell Creek Station.
The agreement marks the conclusion of three years of negotiations between SunCable and around 200 traditional owners. The agreement is expected to deliver major economic benefits through jobs and local business opportunities. The agreement includes strict environmental protection and cultural heritage preservation.
SunCable CEO Ryan Willemsen-Bell said: “SunCable is developing one of the largest renewable energy projects in the region, designed to harness the Northern Territory’s world-class solar resource to deliver reliable, cost-effective renewable electricity to industrial customers in the Northern Territory and South-East Asia.”
SunCable is developing its flagship project, AAPowerLink, which aims to harness and store renewable energy from Australia’s Northern Territory for transmission to Darwin and Singapore through a high voltage direct current transmission system.
The project proposes to develop the world’s largest renewable energy generation and battery storage precinct in the Northern Territory. It will integrate wind, solar and battery capacity at scale to supply industrial customers with a flat load profile of renewable electricity.
In 2024, the project was approved by the Northern Territory government and later by the federal environment minister.
Northern Land Council Chairman Matthew Ryan said: “It sends a clear message that the Northern Territory is open for business. This demonstrates that Aboriginal Territorians are leading the way by participating in genuine engagement with big business.
“This is about strengthening self-determination, building sustainable communities, and contributing to the long-term economic viability of the Northern Territory.”