“Cape Barren Island’s only about twenty minutes by plane from Launceston,” engineering consultant David Asten CPEng told create. “But it’s a world away from mainland electricity services.”
“If the weather’s clear, a plane can usually get out the next day to fix a problem with a network component. But if the weather’s bad — and Bass Strait does get extreme weather — then it might be three or four days before help arrives.”
Isolation, limited access to equipment and technical support and harsh conditions are among the significant challenges associated with providing renewable energy to remote Indigenous communities.
But, Ruby Heard CPEng, Director of Alinga Energy Consulting said it’s imperative that industry, government and communities work together to make renewable energy options accessible despite those challenges.
The impact of energy insecurity
“Everyone should have the right to try to reduce their energy costs. In the cities we take it for granted that we can make choices about how we manage our energy consumption and costs,” said Heard. “Too many indigenous communities are dependent on expensive diesel and rely on prepaid metering systems because they’re terrified of the energy bill they might receive at the end of the quarter if they choose the post-paid option.”