MARLINJA MICROGRID MAKES HISTORY

Marlinja Community with the Solar Microgrid, NT (Credit: Supplied)

BY ASAD KHAN

The launch of Australia’s first First Nations-owned and grid-connected solar microgrid being installed in the remote Northern Territory community of Marlinja will take place tomorrow.

Marlinja Microgrid is the result of a five-year collaboration between nonprofit project developer Original Power and the Marlinja community.

The Project team hopes the Marlinja Microgrid will work as a blueprint for the government and First Nations communities around Australia

Chantelle Johns, Original Power’s community Liaison officer said the project is the first of its kind.

“So in a way not only benefits us here in the community with the cheaper and cleaner power but also benefits utilities as well because they're not having to use as much diesel therefore, you know, we're like contributing to the environmental impacts on that too,”

Vanessa Dixon, Marlinja Traditional Owner said she hopes this inspires all the mob

“If we can do it you guys can do it too, thumbs up,” she said.

Listen to Ngaarda Media’s Lead Journalist Asad Khan speak to Community Liason Officer Chantelle Johns and Traditional Owner Vanessa Dixon: