06/10/2005 - Minister for
the Environment and Heritage, Senator Ian
Campbell, today welcomed the opening of a
privately owned and operated solar farm in
Carnarvon, Western Australia, funded under
the Australian Government’s Renewable Remote
Power Generation Programme (RRPGP).
The 16 kilowatt solar farm is one of the
largest in Western Australia, includes 144
solar panels, and is designed to benefit the
local community by pumping the power it generates
back into the Carnarvon electricity grid.
Senator Campbell said the venture, which
received $104,000 of Australian Government
funding, showed that businesses and individuals
could take positive environmental actions
that would also benefit them financially.
"This is what I like to call an environmental
double-play – it has both environmental and
financial benefits," Senator Campbell
said.
"This solar farm harnesses one of Carnarvon’s
natural resources in sunshine and uses it
to reduce the use of fossil fuels, reduce
greenhouse gas emissions, and increase the
owner’s financial rewards.
"As we continue to look for initiatives
to reduce its greenhouse emissions as part
of the global response to climate change,
there will be new opportunities through the
Australian Government for innovative businesses
to make money while also helping our climate."
The Carnarvon solar farm was funded through
the Australian Government’s Renewable Remote
Power Generation Programme, which provides
rebates for renewable energy systems serving
pastoral stations, Aboriginal communities,
tourism operations, homes and other facilities
in rural and remote areas of Australia.
Since the programme started in 2001, about
10,000 solar panels have been installed in
regional Western Australia, providing more
than 1 megawatt of solar generating capacity.
The Renewable Remote Power Generation Programme
is an Australian Government initiative, which
is funded by diesel excise. In Western Australia,
the programme is administered by the Sustainable
Energy Development Office.
