Abstract
Production of desalinated water and power using solar energy or wind turbines will result in health benefits and reduced emissions at remote Indigenous communities. Excess solar or wind energy can be stored in Lithium or Vanadium redox flow battery or used to produce hydrogen using electrolysers. The stored hydrogen together with fuel cells can be used to meet the power demand during day and night.
Currently, drinking water used by many remote Indigenous communities do not meet the quality standards for potable water. This is having a negative impact on the health and well-being of the Indigenous people, including higher kidney failure cases among the remote communities. Additionally, producing a small amount of Haemodialysis water (Ultrapure water) meeting clinical standards will enable doing dialysis at the community clinic.
Data collection, analysis, and evaluation of the water quality, usage and power consumption pattern at the communities will be required as part of this research. The study will confirm feasibility, economics and expected reduction in emissions and cost of power by implementing the system. The findings from this study will help to make policy decisions for implementing cost-effective renewable energy projects in more than 120 remote Indigenous communities spread across Western Australia (WA).
The challenges in installation, operation, and maintenance will have to be overcome considering remoteness of these locations and absence of skilled people on site.
The training requirements for people in the remote communities will have to be studied to make them capable of managing the system without much external assistance.
