We work with rural and remote communities in Central Australia and South India to identify barriers and promote the use of solar energy. We yarn with communities to collect and communicate examples of clean energy projects already operating in rural and remote communities; identify barriers and enablers for increased adoption of clean domestic energy solutions; co-design in ways to communicate their health, environmental, and economic benefits in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities; and enhance collaboration on clean energy solutions between these communities in Australia and India.

Australia and India are similar in our huge potential to generate affordable clean electricity from solar energy systems. While the economic, environmental and health benefits from a transition to renewable energy are known, the technology is not easily available to all communities in these countries. Most rural households in India use solid fuels, while many remote and Aboriginal communities in Australia have little choice but to rely on polluting and expensive diesel for energy generation.

This project aims to increase access and adoption of domestic solar systems and reduce polluting fuel use in rural and remote Australia and India, contributing to cleaner air, affordable and improved energy security, and better health outcomes for rural, remote and Indigenous communities in both countries.

The project, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras and Clean Air Asia, involves consultation with communities and businesses about their knowledge of clean energy and co-design ways of promotion, such as through local artwork and school competitions. The project team will also promote knowledge exchange and communication between communities, businesses, health practitioners, non-governmental organisations, researchers and other local stakeholders to promote business opportunities, and strengthen research and development and cooperation in the clean energy sector.

Funded by: Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

UC project team: Sotiris Vardoulakis, Nigel Goodman, Gopika Indu and Pratika Chawla

External team members: Shiva Nagendra, Krishna Vasudevan, Linda Ford, Veronica Matthews, Raghuraman Chandrasekaran, Supriya Mathew, Catherine Joyce, Nina Lazarevic , Priya Rajagopalan, Prarthana Borah, Sarup Das, Sathiya Prabhakaran

Ford L.P., Matthews V., Vardoulakis S., 2022. Connection to Country has role in climate adaptation. 360info. 

Vardoulakis S., Matthews V., Ford L.P., Mathew S., Joyce C.A., Nagendra S., Martin K., 2023. Danger of poor housing in remote communities. 360info.

Mathew, S., Bhatta, M., Baliva, G., Matthews, V., Zander, K. K., Joshy, A. L., ... & Vardoulakis, S. (2024). . Journal of Cleaner Production, 144370.