Australians broadly back renewable megaprojects, but support drops if the energy generated isn’t used domestically, according to new research by Charles Darwin University (CDU) examining public attitudes toward the proposed world’s largest solar farm.
The study, conducted by CDU’s Northern Institute, explored the social acceptance of the Australia-Asia PowerLink — a 12,000-hectare solar megaproject planned for the Barkly region of the Northern Territory. The project aims to export most of the energy it generates overseas once operational.
Surveying people from across Australia, the study found that 89 per cent of respondents supported the project’s construction and agreed that the remote Northern Territory was the ideal site for such a large-scale renewable development.
However, lead author Professor Kerstin Zander said public approval declined when participants were asked whether exporting the solar power was acceptable.
“While our results indicate that the developer might have a social licence to build the solar megafarm, they do not necessarily have it for exporting a large proportion of the energy,” Professor Zander said.
The research found that 54 per cent of respondents considered it acceptable to export energy overseas, while more than half of those who disagreed would change their view if the solar energy was used exclusively within Australia.
“Part of this may be entangled with concern about the cable itself, there may also be concerns related to distributive justice,” she said.
“Unlike in Europe where energy moves relatively freely among countries in the European Union, only half of the respondents considered it fair to produce the energy on Australian land then export most of it for use in a different country.
“What may be needed to raise acceptance is further consultation and awareness raising for potential benefits of the planned strategy, especially the lower greenhouse gas production in Asia if it is replaced by Australian renewable solar power.”
Additional findings showed 78 per cent of participants agreed that renewable energy production is necessary to reduce Australia’s carbon emissions, and 89 per cent said the Northern Territory was the perfect location for such a project.
