The Australian government has approved a $19 billion solar power project to export electricity to Singapore, hailing it as a "generation-defining piece of infrastructure".
The landmark moment comes as coal and gas remain the largest sources of electricity generation Down Under, where energy is a "politically fraught issue", said Al Jazeera.
The new project, known as the Australia-Asia Power Link (AAPowerLink), proposes a 12,000 hectare (46 square mile) solar farm in a remote part of Australia's Northern Territory.
SunCable, owned by billionaire software tycoon Mike Cannon-Brookes, said the project would supply up to 15% of Singapore's energy needs once it is completed in the early 2030s.
"It will be the largest solar precinct in the world," said Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek, adding that it "heralds Australia as the world leader in green energy".
Although it has won environmental approval in Australia, the project "still faces various other regulatory hurdles", said Al Jazeera, including assessments by authorities in Singapore and Indonesia. SunCable also still needs approvals from Indigenous groups in Australia.
Although Australia has "long been a global leader in solar energy adoption", said News.Az, about 99% of its solar panels are imported, exposing "vulnerabilities" in Australia's renewable energy supply chain.
So the Solar SunShot project – an initiative to boost domestic panel production – is a "key component" of Australia's "broader strategy" to "secure its place as a global leader in the renewable energy sector". | 
