UN Division for Sustainable Development

Case Study Detail Record

Organization type:	Government

Name of Ministry/Agency:

Country:	Australia

Initiative Title:	Bushlight - Indigenous Renewable Energy Services

Internet links:	http://www.bushlight.org.au

Scope:

Status:	Ongoing

Timeframe:	Start: End:

Lead Institution:	Department of the Environment and Heritage - Australian Greenhouse Office

Stakeholders/Partners:

Relevent issues:	- Consumer education and awareness-raising - Energy and rural development

Objectives/Challenges:

Bushlight’s goal is to improve livelihood opportunities in remote indigenous communities through the application of sustaianble renewable energy services. It provides design, information and education services to help maintain renewable energy power systems. Specifically, Bushlight aims to:

1. Provide remote indigenous communities with reliable and sustainable renewable energy services;
2. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by reducing diesel consumption; and
3. Stimulate further development of the Australian renewable energy industry and research sector.

Lessons Learned:

During the first two years of Bushlight, the availability of funding for capital works was a major challenge. This resulted in delayed implementation of the capital works plan. These funding issues were resolved, but the early delays have resulted in a large proportion of the planned capital works scheduled for delivery in the programme’s final year. Capacity has been adjusted to meet this workload; however external factors such as the renewable energy industry’s capacity to supply components and install systems in peak times is a potential risk.

The most significant strategic barrier that the project faces in most regions is the highly variable infrastructure support arrangements in place for communities. In developing agreements with communities to supply energy systems, Bushlight has attempted to ensure that future maintenance and support activities are assigned to appropriately skilled and resourced organisations willing and capable of meeting their obligations. A key element in the success of the Bushlight programme has been a focus on improving community capacity and confidence to choose and manage renewable energy services.

Positive outcomes for communities include:
- Significant savings are made from reduced use of generators (ie reduced fuel, transport and maintenance costs).
- The system provides significant relief from the effort required to fuel, run and maintain a generator and enables quiet enjoyment of the environment.
- Residents see their own knowledge of the system as an important part of its reliable operation.
- Access to a reliable, 24 hour power supply has enabled homelands to reallocate resources away from inefficient energy services, towards community development projects. Communities have improved access to to computers, small power tools, night lighting and refrigeration, with corresponding benefits for health, education and work opportunities.
- The availability of 24 hour power provides improved entertainment options for children, keeping them away from the potential “traps” or “bad influence” of town.

Cost reductions have been achieved through:
- Effective procurement strategy (including the bulk manufacture of equipment enclosures, competitive system installation process)
- Standardisation and simplification of equipment enclosure design and installation specifications
- Increasing contractor familiarity with Bushlight specifications and requirements
- Increased competition for installation contracts

Policy Options:

Bushlight is increasing access to sustainable renewable energy services for remote communities of indigenous people in the Northern Territory, Western Australia and Queensland. The project is based on a service delivery model designed to promote empowerment and education of remote communities on energy issues, improve the reliability of renewable energy systems, and establish an energy services network to give ongoing support to participating communities.

The successful deployment of renewable energy technologies in remote locations is of relevance to many developing countries. Establishing appropriate standards, industry training and accreditation, and appropriate forms of community information and education are central to building a sustainable renewable energy industry which is able to meet the need’s of remote indigenous communities.

The Bushlight model offers a sustainable livelihoods partnership approach to the provision of energy services. There is potential for this model to be replicated for energy service provision in other countries, especially for small remote communities. The model used by Bushlight could also be extended to the provision of other essential services such as water and waste management.

Summary:

The Bushlight programme has been provided with Australian Government funding of more than $24 million for both operational and capital works expenditure over a 5 year period.

Bushlight was developed in response to a 1999 study by the Australian Cooperative Research Centre for Renewable Energy and the Centre for Appropriate Technology which found that most of Australia’s 1,200 small remote indigenous communities depended on diesel or small petrol generators to meet day to day energy requirements.

The Renewable Remote Power Generation Programme (RRPGP), launched in 1999 by the Australian Government provides rebates of up to 50% of the capital cost of renewable energy equipment to reduce fossil use in remote area power supplies. A key project funded under the RRPGP is the Indigenous Renewable Energy Services Programme (Bushlight

Bushlight has a Community Energy Planning Model (CEPM) that provides Bushlight staff with a methodology and resources to undertake community interaction and energy planning. The approach is designed to develop increased community awareness, capacity and confidence in relation to energy services. .

The energy planning process provides some technical information to communities, and in addition, three modules of explicit training are provided to homeland residents:
RE system operation and basic maintenance
Trouble-shooting problems or issues with energy services
Sustainable management of energy services
Homeland residents also have access to a short course in basic maintenance of systems that Bushlight delivers regionally.

Bushlight staff visit homelands at least once every 3 months in the first 12 months after the system is installed, to ensure capability and confidence to manage renewable energy services is established among residents. Approximately 12 months after energy planning and system installation, Bushlight staff undertake a review of each community’s Energy Plan, including system servicing and maintenance arrangements. Since Bushlight was launched, in May 2002, more than 450 remote indigenous communities have been visited by Bushlight staff to discuss energy services and over 60 Bushlight renewable energy systems have been installed.

The Australian renewable energy industry has developed significant expertise in the design and delivery of remote renewable energy power systems. In particular, the Bushlight programme has achieved positive community and renewable energy industry development outcomes and has yielded a wealth of useful programme material. More generally, a range of international training programmes have been established based on course material developed in Australia, and there is further scope for information exchange through Australia’s involvement in International Energy Agency implementing agreements, the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership and other international energy fora