The Australian Government has announced a $35 million investment to support a big battery in Darwin, microgrids in remote First Nations communities, and solar banks throughout the Northern Territory (NT).
According to the Federal Government, the investments will help Territorians save money on power bills, make the NT’s rising proportion of renewable energy more dependable and secure, and reduce emissions.
Up to $15 million will be spent on the installation of a 35MW battery at Darwin’s Channel Island Power Station, which can power 150,000 Territorians.
Another $15 million will be used to help remote Indigenous communities build microgrids to minimise their reliance on expensive diesel generators.
The Government will also invest $4.7 million in solar banks around the Territory, which will use community-scale solar and clean energy technology.
Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen stated that the investments will reduce energy bill stress for NT households while also improving the State’s energy dependability.
“The Channel Island battery will help households and businesses save on electricity bills by unlocking additional capacity for renewables, delivering cheaper and cleaner energy to homes and businesses,” Minister Bowen said.
According to Minister Bowen, this investment aims to ensure that Territorians, whether on or off the grid, get a fair deal on energy and that companies have access to inexpensive energy.
The funding for solar banks is part of the Federal Government’s bigger commitment to co-invest $101 million in solar banks to deliver cheaper power to more than 25,000 Australian families that cannot install their own solar.
Since October, the Government said its Energy Price Relief Plan has reduced wholesale electricity prices by 50%, and more than five million households and one million small businesses will be eligible for Energy Price Relief Rebates beginning 1 July.
The 2023-24 Budget provides over $1.6 billion for energy-saving upgrades for households, companies, and social housing as part of the Government’s commitment to lower costs without raising inflation. This investment will help older homeowners and appliances meet new energy regulations and save money.
Additionally, the historic Capacity Investment Scheme will invest $10 billion in clean, dispatchable, and dependable electricity. The $20 billion Rewiring the Nation program involves modernising the Australian electrical system to satisfy market needs.
