Communities living and working in the Daintree, Far North Queensland, have long relied on diesel generators for their power needs. Dirty, smelly, noisy and expensive, these generators will soon be a problem of the past with the development of a world-leading renewable energy microgrid.
In a move that will support more than 200 local jobs, the Federal Government has awarded Volt Advisory Group $18.75 million over three years to develop an innovate renewable energy microgrid for the Daintree region. The Daintree Microgrid will incorporate an 8 MW solar farm, 20 MWh of battery storage and a 1 MW clean hydrogen plant.
Clean solar energy generated by the microgrid will be turned into hydrogen, going on to power about 700 homes and be used for seasonal storage and large-scale generators.
Cheaper, Cleaner, More Reliable Electricity
Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch, who has been campaigning for a power source in the Daintree for decades, said the microgrid would have no environmental impact on the World Heritage-listed site. He has assured the community that the microgrid will be deployed along existing roadways and previously cleared land in the Cow Bay area.
In a statement yesterday, Minister for Energy, Angus Taylor said the Daintree Microgrid will ensure the Daintree community has a more affordable, reliable and resilient electricity supply.
“This is a major win for communities in the Daintree Rainforest, which will see reduced pollution and noise from diesel generators, and will be a valuable demonstration of solar to hydrogen technology” Minister Taylor said.
“The renewable and hydrogen microgrid will use cutting edge technology to reduce emissions and drive down costs by ending the community’s reliance on costly diesel generation.”
Assistant Minister for Energy, Tim Wilson said the microgrid would displace more than 4 million litres of diesel fuel consumed in the Daintree each year, and is a “giant leap forward in building Australia’s carbon neutral future”.
The Dirty Fight for Clean Energy
While many Daintree locals would like cheaper, cleaner and more reliable power, not all residents are convinced.
Some locals are concerned that the grid will spark unsustainable development, harming the area’s scenic, scientific, and environmental values, while others have raised doubts about the “untested” local production and storage of hydrogen.
Ex-local Russell O’Doherty, who headed up the Daintree Renewable Energy group for years, believes the arguments that detractors are using are nonsensical.
“How can you be an ecotourism destination when all the businesses are running huge diesel generators 24/7?”
“To say that if the Daintree gets affordable, reticulated electricity, that the Daintree will be destroyed and overdeveloped, it’s absolute rubbish”, he said.
Mr Entsch believes the project is vital to the long-term survival and viability of the region.
“This will make a difference to the local school, which is very close to closing, because the number of kids has dropped right back.
“I’m hoping by bringing a more reliable source of power to the area it will encourage people to stay, to attract young families, to keep the school going and support businesses.”
The project will commence this year and the microgrid is due to begin operations by 2024.
