The green light has been given for a two-year project, valued at $9.3 million for Alice Springs, and destined to be partially funded by the federal government.
Titled the ‘Alice Springs Future Grid project’ the development will allow for a proactive pathway towards introducing renewable energy technology into the local network.
Currently, only a small portion of the region’s electricity is derived from renewable origins, with growing demands to power the local and surrounding community.
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) will dedicate $2.17 million towards the installation, in hopes that it will address a number of concerns around the Alice Springs grid. This includes issues surrounding technical and economic elements, alongside social aspects and challenges with regulations.
Chief executive of ARENA Darren Miller said the project will pave the path for a very much needed increase in renewable energy adoption across Alice Springs.
Within the project are a number of small developments, which features a large-scale battery system for Alice Springs, and a trial run for a residential battery that will span across 50 customers.
Introducing clean energy to outback Australia
The CSIRO, Power and Water Corporation, Territory Generation and the Northern Territory local government are combining forces to drive the project. Meanwhile, the Intyalheme Centre for Future Energy will head the entire development across the board.
General Manager of the Intyalheme Centre Tristan Simons said: “Alice Springs is small enough to manage but big enough to matter.
“We are confident the project will not only help secure a clean and reliable energy future for the town, but the knowledge generated will have a positive flow-on effect, well beyond the other isolated networks in the Northern Territory.”
The project will also include a roadmap that identifies how the Alice Springs grid could work towards operating off 50 per cent renewables by the year 2030. This objective also sits in line with the NT’s Government’s plan to eliminate the gas-powered peakers with solar arrays and large-scale battery solutions.
Currently, a five megawatt battery system is already in place for Alice Springs, with hopes that the larger-scale units will provide even bigger opportunities for the future.
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