Introduction

The Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association (NTCA) Inc is the peak primary industry lobby group in the Northern Territory, representing over 95% of the NT cattle herd from small family operations to the large corporate organisations. Renewable Energy The Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association is conducting two projects to increase the use of renewable energy in the Northern Territory. There is no power grid in the Northern Territory with nearly all stations having to be self sufficient for their power requirements. Most of these are using diesel generators although the use of renewable energy is increasing with around 30 stations now having RAPS systems installed.
One of the projects the NTCA is conducting is working with larger stations, for whom the conventional RAPS systems are uneconomical. The other project is working with smaller stations to facilitate their uptake of renewable energy, an output of
this project is to develop and document an evaluation process to facilitate interested producers through what is a change process, in order to get to the point where they can make a confident and fully informed decision on a renewable energy system for their situation.

Purpose of Evaluation Process
1. To guide & facilitate stations (& other remote power users currently reliant on diesel for power generation) through the process of making informed decisions regarding renewable energy. 2. To guide & facilitate Renewable Energy suppliers through a process of most effectively dealing with stations(& other remote power users currently reliant on diesel for power generation), in order for them to make fully informed decisions about renewable energy.

Aspects of Evaluation Process Stations
The interface plan will set out all of the specific steps that producers go through in the process of installing a renewable energy system. This will give a process for stations to follow to evaluate the suitability of renewable energy for their situation. The interface plan will identify and detail why stations that show initial interest do not go through to installing a renewable energy system, some may be valid reasons, and others will be barriers to uptake that can be addressed, eg. false perceptions, lack of knowledge of systems, uncertainty of payoff etc. The interface plan will identify these barriers to uptake and provide tips, tools, case studies and processes to address them. Effectively, reducing the time spent deliberating over the decision to install. The aim will not be to compel stations into installing renewable energy systems, but allow them to easily make fully informed decisions on the suitability and application of renewable energy to their situation.

Suppliers
The interface plan will give insight to suppliers into the decision making process producers go through in evaluating renewable energy. It will outline the process, barriers to uptake as well as ways of addressing the barriers to uptake. Emphasis will be given to the information needed by stations to make fully informed decisions and the best way of presenting that information. The aim of the interface plan will not be to assist suppliers to compel stations into installing renewable energy systems but to allow suppliers to more effectively help stations make fully informed decisions on renewable energy, which will lead to increased uptake.