UCRH researcher Associate Professor Veronica Matthews is among a group of academics who have published research addressing this very question.
Their paper, Why are solar microgrids not the norm in remote Central Australia? Exploring local perception on solar energy and health, has been published in the Journal of Cleaner Production.
Australia has immense potential to harness solar energy. Despite this potential, the electricity sector still contributes to one-third of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Solar projects are important in remote Aboriginal communities because remote residents regularly face energy poverty and energy insecurity. Frequent power disconnections affect people’s health and daily life activities.
This study explores the enablers and barriers to solar energy adoption and the benefits of having solar microgrids in remote Australia.
Their work acknowledges that energy insecurity prevails in very remote Aboriginal households and that there is limited research on the links between diesel fired energy generation and health in remote Australia.
They point out that there is a need to evaluate and communicate the benefits of transitioning to solar in remote Australia, and that importantly, community members who are well-informed of the benefits of clean energy are key for clean energy transition.