Mr ELFERINK - 2001-02-22
My question comes from an inquiry I have had from the Hermannsburg area from Mr John Brocklebank. Mr Brocklebank has an inquiry which affects some 20% of the Territory population who cannot be feasibly connected to the electricity grid. They are therefore are almost entirely dependent on diesel fuel for power generation. Can the minister advise of any initiatives to help remote communities, pastoral properties and mining operations to switch to alternative and renewable forms of energy?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I thank the honourable member for that question because it is pertinent. Twenty percent of people in his electorate have particular problems regarding power and the cost involved providing that power.
I am very pleased to advise all honourable members that the Northern Territory government and the Commonwealth government have signed a partnership agreement to implement a renewable energy rebate program in the Northern Territory. Under that agreement the Territory government has prepared a renewable energy rebate program proposal for the federal government and that proposal now awaits the approval of the Commonwealth Ministerial Council on Greenhouse, and that is expected around about April. Once that approval happens, funding of $43m over a five year period will be made available to the Territory to provide rebates to eligible user groups towards the cost of installing renewable energy in remote locations. Rebates of up to 50% of the cost of installing renewable energy systems will be available.
Some of the examples of renewable technology that are likely to have application in the Territory include flat plate photovoltaic modules for most small or medium sized installations, photovoltaic concentrations for larger installations, solar thermal technologies for mining operations and wind turbines for sites in the Barkly Tablelands and surrounding areas.
Renewable energy can certainly provide a viable alternative to diesel generated electricity in areas of the Northern Territory which are not serviced by the electricity grid and the rebate program will certainly provide support for the conversion of diesel based electricity to renewable energy technologies. The implementation of that program certainly has taken a bit longer than I would have liked but we wanted to have the Commonwealth’s original program proposal extended to include rebates for agricultural and water pumping. Obviously, you would realise that using renewable energy resources, especially solar energy, for applications like that are quite widespread in the Territory. An agreement between the Commonwealth and the Northern Territory governments has been amended to that effect and I am very pleased about that.
The objective of the program is to increase the uptake of renewable energy technology in remote areas of the Territory and it will help supply an effective electricity supply to remote users, assist in developing renewable energy industry, help meet the energy infrastructure needs of indigenous communities and lead to long-term greenhouse gas reductions. Some of the eligible user groups will include indigenous communities, pastoral properties, roadhouses and way-side inns, parks and wildlife sites, tourism operations, isolated households and mining operations.
Fully implemented it is estimated this program could reduce diesel fuel consumption by about 19m litres per year and reduce the Territory’s carbon dioxide emissions by more than 52 000 tonnes per year.
A member: Hear, hear!
Mr MANZIE: Indeed, Mr Speaker. An exciting initiative, and it has already attracted some very strong interest from power users in remote areas.
But it is important to realise this is part of this CLP government’s continuing moves to provide efficient, cost-effective and environmentally friendly power generation right throughout the Northern Territory for all Territorians.
Mr Reed: Bit like federal Labor stopping us putting a power line to Jabiru .
Mr MANZIE: Well, that’s an exact example. Of course, under the policies of Labor there would be no developments anywhere that would require electricity or power lines, so they defeat the purpose of those kinds of things with their policies.
Mr PALMER (Leader of Government Business): Mr Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Question Paper.
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I thank the honourable member for that question because it is pertinent. Twenty percent of people in his electorate have particular problems regarding power and the cost involved providing that power.
I am very pleased to advise all honourable members that the Northern Territory government and the Commonwealth government have signed a partnership agreement to implement a renewable energy rebate program in the Northern Territory. Under that agreement the Territory government has prepared a renewable energy rebate program proposal for the federal government and that proposal now awaits the approval of the Commonwealth Ministerial Council on Greenhouse, and that is expected around about April. Once that approval happens, funding of $43m over a five year period will be made available to the Territory to provide rebates to eligible user groups towards the cost of installing renewable energy in remote locations. Rebates of up to 50% of the cost of installing renewable energy systems will be available.
Some of the examples of renewable technology that are likely to have application in the Territory include flat plate photovoltaic modules for most small or medium sized installations, photovoltaic concentrations for larger installations, solar thermal technologies for mining operations and wind turbines for sites in the Barkly Tablelands and surrounding areas.
Renewable energy can certainly provide a viable alternative to diesel generated electricity in areas of the Northern Territory which are not serviced by the electricity grid and the rebate program will certainly provide support for the conversion of diesel based electricity to renewable energy technologies. The implementation of that program certainly has taken a bit longer than I would have liked but we wanted to have the Commonwealth’s original program proposal extended to include rebates for agricultural and water pumping. Obviously, you would realise that using renewable energy resources, especially solar energy, for applications like that are quite widespread in the Territory. An agreement between the Commonwealth and the Northern Territory governments has been amended to that effect and I am very pleased about that.
The objective of the program is to increase the uptake of renewable energy technology in remote areas of the Territory and it will help supply an effective electricity supply to remote users, assist in developing renewable energy industry, help meet the energy infrastructure needs of indigenous communities and lead to long-term greenhouse gas reductions. Some of the eligible user groups will include indigenous communities, pastoral properties, roadhouses and way-side inns, parks and wildlife sites, tourism operations, isolated households and mining operations.
Fully implemented it is estimated this program could reduce diesel fuel consumption by about 19m litres per year and reduce the Territory’s carbon dioxide emissions by more than 52 000 tonnes per year.
A member: Hear, hear!
Mr MANZIE: Indeed, Mr Speaker. An exciting initiative, and it has already attracted some very strong interest from power users in remote areas.
But it is important to realise this is part of this CLP government’s continuing moves to provide efficient, cost-effective and environmentally friendly power generation right throughout the Northern Territory for all Territorians.
Mr Reed: Bit like federal Labor stopping us putting a power line to Jabiru .
Mr MANZIE: Well, that’s an exact example. Of course, under the policies of Labor there would be no developments anywhere that would require electricity or power lines, so they defeat the purpose of those kinds of things with their policies.
Mr PALMER (Leader of Government Business): Mr Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016