Australia has given the green light to a groundbreaking solar and battery farm in its remote Northern Territory, marking what officials describe as the “largest solar precinct in the world.” The massive project, known as SunCable, will generate enough energy to power three million homes, with a portion of the energy planned for export to Singapore.

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek announced the approval on Wednesday, highlighting the project’s significance in positioning Australia as a global leader in green energy.

Spanning 12,000 hectares (29,650 acres), the SunCable project is backed by tech billionaire and environmental advocate Mike Cannon-Brookes. Once operational, the farm will produce four gigawatts of energy per hour for domestic use, with an additional two gigawatts slated for export to Singapore via an undersea cable.

In 2022, renewable energy accounted for 32 per cent of Australia’s total electricity generation, while coal remained dominant at 47 per cent, according to government data.

The SunCable project represents a significant step forward in Australia’s renewable energy ambitions, potentially setting a new standard for large-scale green energy initiatives worldwide.

Australia, while historically one of the world’s top exporters of coal and gas, has been increasingly affected by climate change, facing extreme weather events such as heatwaves, floods, and bushfires. Despite the country’s reliance on fossil fuels, Australians have been quick to adopt household solar panels, though national efforts to transition fully to renewable energy have lagged.