Singapore’s Energy Market Authority (EMA), as part of the city-state’s ongoing effort to decarbonize its energy sources and achieve its target of net-zero emissions by 2050, has given conditional approval to Sun Cable (Singapore) Assets to import 1.75 gigawatts (GW) of low-carbon electricity from Australia.

The electricity will be generated from solar energy in Australia’s Northern Territory and delivered to Singapore via a 4,300 kilometre subsea cable. Based on the data provided, the project has been assessed as both technically and commercially viable.

With this conditional approval, Sun Cable can now move forward with further development, with the expectation that commercial operations will commence after 2035.

To secure a full licence, Sun Cable must meet several conditions, such as adhering to technical specifications, obtaining necessary approvals from all relevant jurisdictions and establishing a commercially sustainable pricing model for consumers.

Singapore has set a goal of importing 6GW of low-carbon electricity by 2035, and this project represents a significant milestone towards that target. The country has already licensed 2GW for import from Indonesia and granted conditional approvals for an additional 3.6GW from sources in Indonesia, Cambodia and Vietnam.

These projects will draw from a mix of solar, wind and hydropower, contributing to the wider ASEAN Power Grid vision, a key regional initiative to tap low-carbon energy sources and contribute to economic development and energy security and stability.

The EMA has also stated that it continues to explore a variety of decarbonization technologies, including hydrogen, solar, geothermal, nuclear energy and carbon capture, as part of its long-term strategy to meet growing energy demands and Singapore’s transition to a low-carbon future.