The Northern Territory (NT) Government has granted a tender for a wind generation study, which will inform the near-term deployment of wind-gathering technology to collect data to de-risk and accelerate investment.
Jacobs, a global consulting firm, will conduct the research from its Darwin office, clearly committed to delivering local benefits and efforts to assist local employment and industry growth.
“With a 40-year history in the Northern Territory, Jacobs is excited to be part of this project and to support the Territory Government’s renewable energy development,” Jacobs Director of Operations Northern Australia Michael Christie said.
“Climate change is a key element of Jacobs’ strategic focus, and we are working with a variety of government and private clients to support decarbonisation and renewable energy sources for the long term. We look forward to working in partnership with the Territory Government to identify potential wind energy opportunities,” Christie added.
The wind generation study will identify potential places in the Territory for large-scale wind generating and design a wind monitoring technique. The final report is scheduled to be completed later this year.
According to the NT Government, while the State’s solar resources are widely known, the Territory may have significant wind resource potential. There currently needs to be more publicly available information to help prospective proponents and investors do more extensive assessments of the Territory for large-scale wind production.
“The wind study will provide the information necessary to understand the potential to use wind as an alternative renewable energy source in the Territory,” Minister for Renewables and Energy Selena Uibo said.
Minister Uibo stated that the research might open up new potential for renewable energy production in the Territory’s regional and remote areas, providing new local jobs and supporting regional economic growth.
“Diversification of the Territory’s renewable energy opportunities is critical to our pathway to a net zero emissions future,” the Minister added.
The State Government allocated $1.7 million in Budget 2023 to expedite the growth of the hydrogen sector. A significant aim is to better understand the Territory’s wind resource potential and gather and disseminate pre-competitive wind resource data for renewable energy generation.
Large-scale renewable energy generation and storage are required to meet the NT’s strategic goal of 50% renewable energy, a $40 billion economy by 2030, and net zero emissions by 2050.
