Crippling residential electricity bills and a lack of reliable, sustainable green energy could soon be a thing of the past for Queensland’s largest Aboriginal community of 4000 residents.
The Energy Connect Microgrid Consortium said its feasibility study has delivered recommendations to build a financially and technically viable Microgrid model for sustainable community power that could be rolled out to other fringe-of-grid communities. The Commonwealth government provided almost $2 million in funding for the feasibility study through the Regional and Remote Communities Reliability Fund (RRCRF).
The Far North Queensland community of Yarrabah could save around $1.7 million each year and better weather disasters through the implementation of the Microgrid feasibility study findings. The project team is now in an advanced stage of negotiations for implementation funding to roll out the necessary infrastructure with the Queensland State Government and through several Federal government programs such as the Australian Renewable Energy Agency – RAMPP1.
The Study concluded that a microgrid, comprising of residential and commercial rooftop solar panels, a community battery energy storage facility, a small ‘solar farm’, and supported by an extensive residential energy efficiency and smart appliance program would enable the community of Yarrabah to become more resilient and produce cost savings for the residents.
The proposal includes the development of the Yarrabah Science Centre to optimise the economic benefit of the project, provide local employment and establish community infrastructure that can attract visitors and support the local community with energy education.
Project Lead, Ken Ash said “The microgrid infrastructure will improve community resilience by removing Yarrabah’s reliance on a single 90 kilometre overhead powerline by introducing local sustainably generated and stored power which has a significant benefit to families who often experience power outages causing disruption to day to day living and community facilities”. “This could be a game-changer for Yarrabah and other similar communities,” Member for Kennedy, Mr Bob Katter said.
Yarrabah Mayor, Ross Andrews said “As a fringe of grid community, Yarrabah experiences longer and more frequent power outages than urban centres, and the lack of alternative local services means interruptions to the electricity supply have an even bigger impact on a community that is already experiencing socio-economic disadvantage.”
The project will cost an estimated $23.5 million over three years, with a further investment of $1.5 million needed annually for ongoing operational costs. It is expected to generate 13 full time jobs during construction.