The Northern Territory Government will provide $1.5 million from 2017 to 2020 to Charles Darwin University (CDU) and the Centre for Appropriate Technology (CAT) for renewable energy research and development projects.
NT Minister for Environment and Natural Resources, Lauren Moss, said the state is uniquely placed to take advantage of the shift to renewable energy across the globe to deliver secure, reliable and affordable power.
“Increased investment in renewable energy creates jobs, and delivering cheap and reliable energy for business and families will provide a boost for economic development and population growth,” Ms Moss said.
“The renewable energy research and development projects being funded are exciting, and will help us to deliver on Labor’s target of 50 per cent renewable energy by 2030.”
Following a transparent, and competitive grant process, the Renewable Energy Sub-Committee recommended the following four projects.
The Centre for Appropriate Technology will receive:
- $388,576 to develop of an investment grade renewable resource database to facilitate scaling of renewables in the NT
Charles Darwin University will receive funding for three projects:
- $466,380 for Cost-Effective Maintenance of Remote Hybrid Mini-Grid Systems
- $231,316 for modelling future solar energy production from households and businesses in the Greater Darwin Area
- $413,197 for Bioenergy for PV Hybrid Electricity Generation
CDU’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Research Training Professor, Lawrence Cram, welcomed the university’s role in solving problems related to energy in the Territory.
“These projects are prime examples of how knowledge that is developed by the Northern Territory’s university can be accessed for the benefit of the whole community,” Professor Cram said.
“CDU is a leader in the North in the area of renewable energy, and our staff are ready to take on the projects and deliver the solutions.”
