Reform: Renewable energy

Energy and renewable energy sources are a key driver of economic development.

With substantial areas of land with high solar irradiance, the Northern Territory is highly suited to large-scale solar and renewable hydrogen developments.

The Office of Sustainable Energy within the Department of Mining and Energy provides policy advice to government on energy market and renewable energy initiatives and projects of strategic value to the Northern Territory (NT).

Programs and initiatives

Electricity reforms

In June 2020 the NT Government announced priority electricity reforms facilitate an increasing number of market participants and the adoption of emerging technologies that will support the government’s target of 50% renewable energy by 2030, while maintaining secure, reliable and least cost electricity for consumers and taxpayers.

Follow its progress on the NT Electricity Market Priority Reform Program page.

Darwin-Katherine Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)

The NT Government has approved the procurement of a large scale battery for the Darwin-Katherine grid.

The BESS will increase stability and reliability of power supply, reduce carbon emissions for the Territory and enable more renewable energy from large scale solar projects.

The BESS is expected to be operational in 2024.

Household and Business Battery Scheme

Territory homeowners and businesses can access a $6,000 grant for the purchase and installation of solar PV systems with eligible batteries and inverters, and for those who already have solar, for batteries and inverters.

Behind‑the‑meter batteries can reduce the cost for household and businesses by reducing the amount of power that is purchased from the grid.

Batteries can also contribute to grid stability and reduce power system costs by replacing demand for gas‑fired generation during evening peaks with solar energy generated during the day.

To find out more, go to the Northern Territory Government website.

Northern Territory renewable hydrogen strategy

The Territory is positioning itself to be at the forefront of the developing hydrogen industry and aspires to be an international scale renewable hydrogen technology research, production and downstream manufacturing centre.

To achieve this vision the NT renewable hydrogen strategy has been developed. The strategy articulates the potential hydrogen opportunities and the Territory’s competitive advantages. The Territory will leverage these to be an Australian centre for hydrogen technology research, production and use.

Read the NT renewable hydrogen strategy.