Energy reports
Recharging the Territory: How $1.5 billion can create energy security and sustainable jobs for the NT
Year - 2025 Partners - Australian Conservation Foundation and Environment Centre NT
This report shows how the federal government’s $1.5 billion Middle Arm equity investment could be redeployed to deliver a clean energy future for the Northern Territory. This investment would be better used to renationalise the Port of Darwin, reduce emissions, provide the foundation for a strong and diverse new industry sector and cut the cost of living for Territorians.
The update to the 2024 Recharging the Territory report (see below) outlines a three-step plan to exceed 50% renewable energy by 2030, tackle the cost-of-living crisis and create thousands of skilled jobs by:
Re-nationalising the Port of Darwin: Invest $490 million to renationalise the Port of Darwin to restore public ownership of this key northern asset and deliver genuine, sustainable industrial growth at East Arm.
Building a big battery and solar farm to hit 50% renewables and beyond by 2030: Invest $254 million to construct 150 MW/600 MWh of new big battery capacity in the Darwin-Katherine Interconnected System.
Investing in skills and households: Train Territorians at four new renewable energy campuses at a cost of $25 million. Invest $225 million into a Climate Smart Housing Upgrade program for every low-income household in the NT. Invest $119 million to install solar, insulation and a modern air conditioning system in every single public housing dwelling in the NT.
The report sets out the opportunity for federal investment in the sustainable industries of the Northern Territory’s future, and builds on the bipartisan commitment to re-nationalise the Port of Darwin.
Recharging the Territory - Jobs, skills, lower bills.
Year - 2024 Partners - Environment Centre NT
Recharging the Territory proposes an alternative economic vision for the Northern Territory (NT) that tackles the cost-of-living crisis, while creating energy security and thousands of sustainable, future-ready jobs.
Realising this vision could transform the lives of many people in the NT. It shows a path to kicking off a renewables revolution and allowing us to make large scale solar a reality. It outlines a package that would lowers power bills and gives breathing space for families who are doing it tough. Recharging the Territory gets workers ready for the renewable energy industry and creates thousands of sustainable, local jobs.
The Federal Government’s $1.5 billion dollar program to convert the Middle Arm peninsula into a major gas and petrochemical export hub will transfer public money into the hands of offshore gas companies with little benefit for Territorians, or for a competitive, clean economy future.
Funding this development will come at a significant cost to residents. It will:
impact our iconic harbour by dredging, building five product jetties, increasing shipping traffic and contaminating our marine environments
impact our health by increasing air pollution, which NT doctors say will increase the cancer risk in children in Darwin and Palmerston.
destroy any chance we have of securing a safe climate for future generations as it unlocks major gas projects across the Territory, dramatically increasing Australia’s national emissions.
Finally, it does not stack up economically, with the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analytics finding that the business model is flawed and relies on unproven assumptions. The cost of this will fall on Australian taxpayers.
There is a better way.
This report shows that redeploying the Federal Government’s $1.5 billion dollar commitment into a Recharging the Territory Package would deliver more high-quality jobs for locals, directly tackle the NT’s cost-of-living crisis and provide the foundations for a strong and diverse new industry sector. We can invest in energy and skills to fix the NT’s unstable electricity system and provide energy security for households. We can deliver energy upgrades for every low income and public housing dwelling in the NT, which will give families economic relief in a cost-of-living crisis. Finally, we can expedite strategic industrial land development at East Arm or return the Port of Darwin to public ownership.