A Charles Darwin University PhD candidate, Billee McGinley, is investigating the Northern Territory’s (NT) potential to become a major supplier of solar and wind energy.
McGinley’s research at the Research Institute of Environment and Livelihoods emphasizes the urgent need to transition to renewable energy to combat climate change. She highlights that wind and solar are not only cheaper than fossil fuels but also significantly less damaging to the environment, biodiversity, and human health.
Identifying Suitable Land for Renewable Projects
McGinley’s research focuses on identifying land in the NT suitable for large-scale solar and wind projects while minimizing conflicts with biodiversity conservation.
The recent ABC 4 Corners report “Wind Wars” underscored the importance of strategic regional planning for such projects. McGinley notes that vast areas of the NT are ideal for solar energy production, with significant wind power potential as well.
Exporting Renewable Energy and Green Hydrogen
The NT has the capacity to generate more renewable energy than it requires domestically, opening up opportunities for exporting surplus energy to neighboring countries and regions within Australia that cannot meet their own renewable energy needs.
McGinley points to the Suncable solar farm project near Elliot, which aims to transmit energy to Singapore via undersea cables, as an example of this potential. Additionally, the NT could utilize wind and solar energy to produce green hydrogen, a low-carbon fuel that can be liquefied and exported, further contributing to global greenhouse gas emission reductions.
Strategic Planning to Minimize Conflicts
The Office of the Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner has reported that community opposition to wind farms primarily arises during the planning phase.
Regional planning efforts are underway to pinpoint areas with wind power potential, with a particular focus on the arid regions between Tennant Creek and Alice Springs, where there seems to be significant potential for both wind and solar power, as well as green hydrogen production.
Collaboration is Key to Success
McGinley stresses the importance of considering potential conflicts with conservation and other land uses during the resource planning process. Failure to do so could result in delays and community resistance, similar to issues highlighted in the 4 Corners report. McGinley firmly believes that comprehensive, collaborative strategic planning is crucial for successfully harnessing the vast renewable energy opportunities in the NT, emphasizing that expanding fossil fuels or transitioning to more expensive and risky nuclear energy are not viable options.