Cleaner, greener electricity for over 30 remote Indigenous communities is one step closer with the launch of the Northern Territory’s Solar Energy Transformation Program or Solar SETuP.
Building on Power and Water’s 20 years’ plus experience with sustainable energy, Solar SETuP is the world’s largest roll-out of solar energy technology to isolated grids in a regulated environment.
Solar SETuP will integrate a total of 10MW of solar systems into existing diesel power stations in more than 30 remote Indigenous communities over four years and deliver a 15 per cent saving in diesel fuel, equalling 94 million litres of diesel savings over the 25 year life of the project. This equates to $4 million annually in the cost of supplying diesel fuel across vast distances in often difficult conditions.
The solar systems selected for the program are tried and tested technology, ensuring they are robust and reliable for operation in the harsh Northern Territory environment.
A 1MW solar system will be installed at Nauiyu (Daly River) and will use advanced technologies, such as cloud forecasting, with the aim of achieving up to 50 per cent diesel fuel energy savings. The experience gained at Nauiyu will guide future projects aimed at further expanding the solar systems delivered under the program.
Construction of the solar systems is anticipated to commence in 2016 following appropriate community engagement and the completion of the procurement process. There will also be local participation and employment opportunities made available through the tender process.
