A solar power based microgrid for the Daintree community in Far North Queensland is all set to proceed, supported by an $18.75 million Federal Government grant.
The Daintree region has no mains electricity supply, so residents generally use diesel generators and/or solar power and battery storage. More would like to have PV, but solar panels aren’t viable for everyone due to shading issues. The wet season also sees some solar owners running their expensive and polluting generators more often and for longer than they’d prefer.
It appears some of these generators aren’t in particularly good running order:
Back in May 2019, Federal Energy Minister Angus Taylor provided a chunk of cash from the Regional and Remote Communities Reliability Fund to get a renewables based microgrid project for the Daintree to shovel-ready status within 12 months.
There were some doubts cast as to whether the project would be economically viable, and rumours circulated suggesting the microgrid would act as a trigger to allow more development in the World Heritage protected rainforest.
Given all the controversy and usual red tape (and with a pandemic thrown into the mix), it’s little wonder the project has taken longer to get off the ground than originally anticipated.
Solar + Battery + Hydrogen
Funding for the build was earmarked nearly a year ago in the 2021 Federal Budget. The Morrison Government announced yesterday it has awarded Volt Advisory Group, which worked on the feasibility study, $18.75 million over three years to develop the microgrid.
The project will incorporate an 8 MW solar farm, 20 MWh of battery storage and a 1 MW hydrogen electrolyser/fuel cell. Given the sensitivity of the area, special attention will be paid to how infrastructure is implemented. For example, an underground cable network running along and under existing roads and easements, and previously cleared land will be utilised for other elements.
It’s expected the microgrid will avoid a claimed 4 *million* litres of diesel fuel consumed in the Daintree each year.
“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” said Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor.
Federal Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch, who has been a staunch supporter of the project and has copped his share of flak for it, was pleased as punch the grant had been signed off.
“This project is a game-changer for the Daintree community and delivers on my firm commitment to residents to deliver a solution to their power needs,” Mr Entsch said.
Daintree residents will need to use their generators for a while yet. While construction of the project is to commence this year, it’s not due to begin operations until 2024.
The first stage – which as I understand it is what the Federal cash is supporting – will cover the area north of Alexandra Range to Cape Tribulation, and the second stage will connect the areas of Forest Creek and Cape Kimberley. It’s expected the Daintree Microgrid Program will support more than 200 jobs during construction and will further knowledge needed to accelerate deployment of microgrids in regional and remote communities across Australia.
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Great initiative. Was in the Daintree over the school holidays and there appears to be some progress.