SunCable and Traditional Owners sign historic agreement

SunCable and the Northern Land Council (NLC) have signed a multi-million-dollar 70-year agreement to build Australia’s largest solar farm on Powell Creek Station in the Northern Territory.

Under the agreement to build the 12,000ha solar farm, multi-generational wealth will be brought to Traditional Owners who hold native title over the earmarked land area and the project will deliver major economic benefits through jobs, training pathways and local business opportunities.

This significant deal is an example of how large-scale energy projects can be developed in partnership with Aboriginal communities who want to shape their economic future while continuing to live and work on country.

In 2022, SunCable identified the land area it wanted to use and negotiations began with Traditional Owners about options for a land use agreement.

Northern Land Council chairman Matthew Ryan says the deal sends a clear message that the Northern Territory is open for business.

“The Northern Land Council is proud to have negotiated this deal with SunCable on behalf of the Traditional Owners of Janigirulu, Bamayu and Walanypirri,” he said.

“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.”

The agreement has been a massive logistical effort from the NLC, undertaking more 70 consultations to meet and bring together many families across Darwin, Katherine, Elliott, Tennant Creek and other remote locations.

Stringent environmental protection and cultural heritage preservation policies are also included, ensuring cultural knowledge and connections to land will be protected and will continue to be passed down through generations.

“Over the years the NLC has facilitated a number of successful business ventures with Traditional Owners in the Barkly and we look forward to promoting more opportunities towards creating a prosperous future for everyone in the Northern Territory,” Mr Ryan said.

SunCable’s flagship development project, AAPowerLink, proposes to develop the world’s largest renewable energy generation and battery storage precinct.

AAPowerLink will harness and store renewable energy from the Northern Territory for 24/7 transmission to Darwin and Singapore through a high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission system to deliver up to 6GW of 24/7 green electricity to industrial customers in Darwin and Singapore.

Around 4GW of this electricity will be transmitted to Darwin to underpin a new wave of green industrial development in emerging green industries such as hydrogen, e-fuels, green minerals, data centres and other processing and manufacturing opportunities.

SunCable chief executive Ryan Willemsen-Bell says this agreement is a symbol of partnership, of shared vision and of mutual respect.

“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,” he said.

“The [agreement] is the result of years of dialogue, negotiation and trust-building. It ensures that the voices of Native Title Holders are not only heard but are central to the development of this project.”