Antinuclear

ELEANOR HALL: A charity that aims to break the cycle of Indigenous disadvantage says clean technology could revolutionise remote Australia.

Rising electricity prices and poor infrastructure mean some inland areas still rely on diesel generators for electricity.

Now solar power is providing a cheaper and less noisy alternative, as Penny Timms reports.

PENNY TIMMS: The Balunu Foundation runs a healing camp just outside of Darwin, in the Northern Territory.

It helps Aboriginal teens at risk of suicide or substance abuse.

Its founder is Dave Cole.

DAVE COLE: We’ve been delivering programs for the past seven years and we’ve reached over 700 youth and families with our program. Really trying to get kids who are dealing with a whole range of trauma back on track.

PENNY TIMMS: But poor surrounding infrastructure means the camp isn’t connected to an electricity plant. Instead, it operates on diesel generators, which cost more than $15,000 to run each year.

Peter McConchie is the founder of the Culture is Life movement, which advocates for the rights of those in Indigenous communities.

PETER MCCONCHIE: A lot of the communities are working with diesel and, you know, that’s noisy, it’s polluting and it’s just not harmonious.

PENNY TIMMS: Mr Cole says the constant hum of a generator doesn’t do much for the serenity he tries to instil at his healing camp.

Instead, he wants to switch to the cleaner and quieter solar and battery technology, though making the switch would cost around $40,000.

But Mr Cole believes there would be substantial savings over time, and he wants his camp to become a template for other Aboriginal communities right around Australia, especially in areas that have no other option than to be powered by generators. DAVE COLE: Once they are self sufficient for power and water, that’s a large cost saving for the Government, the tax payers and to the community.