Remote Australia reliant on clean energy push

Australia’s Gulf region is on the verge of a boom that can be facilitated by greater investment in renewable energy, according to the CEO of Cairns-based development agency Gulf Savannah Development.

Rob Macalister - one of the keynote speakers at All-Energy Australia 2013 in Melbourne on 9-10 October - is optimistic about the future in the area, which covers nearly 200,000 km, from Queensland’s Atherton Tablelands through to the Northern Territory border.

Gulf Savannah Development represents the interests of five local governments and key industry stakeholders, including mining and transport companies. The organisation’s objective is to increase the uptake of renewable energy, reduce the community and industry’s dependence on fossil fuels and facilitate more investment.

Macalister says the transport kilometres covered annually are far more than those associated with city dwellers in terms of trucking in diesel, moving produce and something as simple as going back and forth to boarding school, where many younger residents receive their education.

He says the Gulf region has a number of world-class renewable energy sources. Already there are five new projects at various stages of development - three solar, one wind and one biomass.

The first stage of the Doomadgee Solar Farm has just been completed. More than 1000 solar panels with a capacity of 264 kilowatts have been installed, resulting in a saving of 115,000 L of diesel fuel each year. There are plans for future expansion of the farm.

A second, well-developed project is the 5 MW Normanton Solar Farm, in which investors are looking to supplement local supply off the grid. “Rather than importing energy 1000 km via a transmission line, it is cheaper to produce locally,” Macalister says. Investors are looking to finalise a power purchase agreement.

So, too, are those associated with the 80 MW Forsyth Wind Farm, which will feed into the national grid. Macalister says there are no reservations about introducing wind farms into the region. There is no opposition from councils or locals. Communities have been supportive and a number of other wind projects are being looked at.

An integrated food and energy project along the Gilbert River also has a biomass plant as part of its plans, but it is still at an early stage. The intention is for some of the crops it would produce, like sugar cane tops, to be burnt to produce energy.

There is also a proposal for a solar farm for Gregory township, which is likely to be of a similar size to Doomadgee Solar Farm. Macalister says there is no power supply there now, but this would be a good way for the community to embrace clean power and grow as a result.

Many remote Gulf communities are not connected to the national grid. As much as 50% of the region’s population has to find its own energy sources.

Macalister says there has been a strong level of community interest in renewable energy over the past five years.

“There is no doubt the investment climate has improved since the federal government introduced clean energy incentives, but both the federal and state government need to maintain policy settings conducive to investors.

“Because we are a growing economy, power demand has jumped; and with the development of new projects in the mining and agriculture sectors, we forecast a further, significant increase in coming years.

“For instance, one of the new mines that will get going in the next five years will have demand for a 20 MW power plant,” Macalister says.

He says there are many prospective mines appearing and, because none of them are on the grid, they are all looking at how they get readily available and affordable energy.

“When you look at the costs of trucking in diesel, you have to think about an alternative, cost-effective solution and this is where we believe renewable energy provides a real opportunity.”

The All-Energy Australia clean and renewable energy exhibition and multistream conference is being held at Melbourne’s Convention and Exhibition Centre from 9-10 October 2013. Further details can be found at www.all-energy.com.au.