A feasibility study to allow Daintree Renewable Energy to take a new 100 per cent renewable microgrid project for the Daintree community to ‘shovel ready’ within 12 months has now been delivered.
The feasibility study is being supported via the Federal Government’s $50 million Regional and Remote Communities Reliability Fund.
Through the Regional and Remote Communities Reliability Fund, the Government will support up to 50 off-grid and fringe-of-grid communities to investigate whether establishing a microgrid is cost-effective, and whether existing off-grid capabilities can be upgraded with modern technology.
Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, Angus Taylor, said the Daintree microgrid feasibility study was the first to receive support from the Regional and Remote Communities Reliability Fund.
“Microgrid technology is becoming increasingly cost effective, creating the opportunity for a reliable, low cost, off-grid supply,” Mr Taylor said.
Federal Leichhardt MP, Warren Entsch, said the proposed microgrid would reduce the World Heritage Area’s reliance on four million litres of diesel fuel per year to generate power.
“This is absolutely fantastic news for the environmentally-conscious Daintree community. Far North Queenslanders, especially those living in the Daintree, are extremely passionate about their natural environment and this is a big win for the entire region,” Mr Entsch said.
