The Federal Government is continuing to support the supply of secure, reliable and affordable power for regional and remote communities to drive economic growth and help them get ahead.
Federal Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey said affordable and reliable electricity is the life-blood of regional and remote Australian communities and he welcomes the Government’s commitment to energy security.
Under Round Two of the Regional and Remote Communities Reliability Fund, the Government is committing $25.6 million to back 20 microgrid feasibility studies with two projectsspread across three sites in Grey.
This includes $1,080,945 for the Fringe of Gold Futures projects at Koonibba and Kimba. This funding will enable a feasibility study into the transition into renewable energy microgrids in the region to provide more reliable, secure and affordable power.
The second project in Grey is $1,365,628 for the Sustainable Microgrid at Arkaroola and Outback Energy Technology Showcase project which will design and test the feasibility of options for achieving sustainable energy and water for Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary.
“Our government is focused on assisting the development of new technologies and it is significant that within Grey three different sites with quite different challenges are targeted,” Mr Ramsey said.
“Kooniba is a small aboriginal community to the west of Ceduna and Kimba is more typical of regional farming based towns, both are connected to the grid,” Mr Ramsey said.
“Arkaroola is an isolated remote operation and offers a completely different set of challenges in that it generates all of its own electricity and needs to source all of its water requirements locally.
“They are an interesting mix and the resultant conclusions will help develop both technologies and guide future policy.”
Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said regional and remote communities face unique energy challenges and the Government is committed to ensuring they are not disadvantaged by unreliable and expensive energy.
“The Regional and Remote Communities Reliability Fund is all about shoring up the supply of secure, reliable and affordable energy for regional Australians and empowering communities to make the choices to best suit their energy needs,” Minister Taylor said.
Through the Regional and Remote Communities Reliability Fund, the Government is providing around $45 million for feasibility studies in over 110 communities across Australia.
The Government has also allocated a further $50 million for grants, to be administered by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, to support microgrid pilot studies in regional communities.
A full list of successful projects under Round Two of the Regional and Remote Communities Reliability Fund will be published at: https://www.business.gov.au/grants-and-programs/regional-and-remote-communities-reliability-fund-microgrids
Media contact: Leonie Lloyd-Smith 08 8633 1744 July 2021
