1. Background Australian Renewable Energy Market Survey Field visits to 88 Indigenous communities identified the following problems with Renewable Energy installations: Lack of regular maintenance Complex, ‘non-standard’ technology Lack of demand management Lack of trained community people & staff Insufficient technical support

2. Some Statistics Systems fully 0perational64% Recent problems43% Battery failure20% Electronics failure23% Local persons received training 8% Satisfaction with RE system40%

3. Bushlight’s purpose To provide improved livelihood choices for indigenous people in Northern Australia by increasing access to sustainable renewable energy services.

4. Project Structure Established as a Joint venture between Centre for Appropriate Technology (CAT) and Australian Cooperative Research Centre for Renewable Energy (ACRE) Now solely operated by CAT Four year project July 2002 – June 2006 Operational funding for Bushlight (AUD$8.4M) has been provided by the Australian Greenhouse Office (AGO), through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC)

5. Bushlight’s Objectives 1.Improved RE System design 2.Increased community capacity to manage energy services 3.Improved support network

6. PV/diesel hybrid

9. Doing additional works to make things easier

10. End products from joint work

11. Installed systems ready for use

12. Further Information: Grant Behrendorff Operations Manager Bushlight PO Box 8044 (32 Priest Street) Alice Springs Northern Territory 0871 E-mail: grant.behrendorff@bushlight.org.au Phone:61 (0)8 8951 4330 FAX: 61 (0)8 8951 4333 Mobile Phone: 61 (0) 427 514 330