Glossary
ARENA The Australian Renewable Energy Agency is an organisation dedicated to the acceleration of Australia’s shift to affordable and reliable renewable energy. It is a statutory agency, established by the ARENA Act 2011.
Bushlight A project run by the Centre for Appropriate Technology between 2002 and 2013, with a philosophy based around reliable and affordable power enabling community livelihood opportunities. Bushlight rolled out more than 130 renewable energy systems across remote NT, WA and Queensland, typically to small outstations. It differs from SETuP in scale.
Frequency control The response to changes in a power system, to provide a consistent flow of electricity.
Future Energy The sources, technology, infrastructure and systems required to meet energy needs in a sustainable way. Future energy also encompasses enabling technologies (such as battery storage) that are necessary components of sustainable energy systems.
The future of energy in the Northern Territory includes innovative approaches to using gaseous fields like hydrogen and while Intyalheme will keep a close eye on emerging opportunities in this field, solar photovoltaics remains the most viable renewable energy technology for the Northern Territory. As such, Intyalheme’s initial focus is supporting the NT Government’s 50% renewable energy by 2030 target through promoting solar energy and enabling technologies.
Inertia A basic concept of physics which describes how an object will keep moving unless a force, like friction, causes it to stop. In power systems, power stations with rotating generators have inertia because their turbine generators contain large quantities of spinning metal. Solar photovoltaic panels have no moving parts and therefore lack inertia. Inertia in the power system is important because it provides the stability to ensure voltage and frequency remain within acceptable limits. It also provides energy, when needed, to operate protection devices within the network. Low inertia and fluctuating energy input can result in blackouts.
Low fault current A fault current insufficient to trigger protection devices.
National Electricity Market (NEM) A wholesale spot market, interconnecting five regional areas: Queensland, NSW and the ACT, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. WA and the NT are not connected to the NEM.
SETuP The NT Solar Energy Transformation Program is a $59m project to transform the way power is delivered in remote communities. Power and Water Corporation installed solar systems at 25 locations, to complement existing diesel generation.
Solar Cities A demonstration program involving seven areas, designed to promote solar power and energy conservation. Alice Springs was a solar city between 2008 and 2013.
Spinning reserve Generation capacity that is online but not being used, and can respond to sudden changes in the network, to maintain system frequency.
Synchronous condenser A unit that can spin freely, and adjust conditions on the electricity grid by either generating or absorbing power.
System strength The measure of the stability of a power system under all reasonably possible operating conditions.