Exploring the social dimensions of rural and remote microgrids in Australia's shift towards sustainable energy

Tahir, Farzan

Exploring the social dimensions of rural and remote microgrids in Australia's shift towards sustainable energy

Tahir, Farzan

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Publication Type:: Thesis
Issue Date:: 2025

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Tahir, Farzan
dc.date.accessioned	2026-04-14T04:44:37Z
dc.date.available	2026-04-14T04:44:37Z
dc.date.issued	2025
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/194701
dc.description	University of Technology Sydney. Institute for Sustainable Futures.	en_US.UTF-8
dc.description.abstract	As the global energy transition accelerates, renewable microgrids are emerging as a viable solution for enhancing energy resilience, reliability, and security. In Australia, they are primarily being developed through pilot projects and feasibility studies for remote and regional communities. While there is an extensive body of literature on the techno-economic aspects of microgrids, studies examining the social dimensions of their adoption and the role of community engagement remain limited. This thesis bridges this gap by examining the niche space inhabited by microgrids in Australia today. This thesis employs a qualitative, mixed-method research approach, incorporating semi-structured interviews and surveys. It focused its research on cohorts of a national funding program that provided support to two dozen projects that represented more than one-hundred communities. The methodology features a systematic examination of the community engagement strategies used, the challenges faced, and the factors influencing social acceptance of microgrids at the local level. It was found that there are strong drivers for microgrid adoption in Australia, including energy resilience, reliability, and clean energy integration. However, several barriers impede their progress, including the lack of a clear regulatory framework, financial constraints, uncertain business models, and challenges related to community engagement. A Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) framework is used to analyse the various community engagement strategies being used in Australian microgrid projects. This revealed that several critical steps in community engagement are often overlooked, thus hindering public participation and project success. The results also underscore that a ‘one-size-fits-all’ engagement approach is ineffective, as each community presents unique challenges that require tailored engagement strategies. While resource-intensive engagement fosters greater community acceptance, poorly planned engagement strategies can lead to resistance and opposition to microgrid projects. The insights derived from this research offer practical implications for community leaders, policymakers, community engagement practitioners, microgrid developers, and utilities. The findings emphasise the need for dedicated funding that incorporates community engagement as a core project component, ensuring that adequate resources are allocated for meaningful participatory processes. Additionally, the study highlights the importance of integrating community perspectives into policy frameworks and programs, helping microgrids to transition from niche innovations to mainstream energy solutions. By addressing the gaps regarding the role of local communities in the success of microgrids, this research contributes to advancing clean energy solutions for Australians living in rural and remote communities. This can help position microgrids as a key component within the country’s energy transition.	en_US.UTF-8
dc.format	Thesis (PhD)
dc.language.iso	en_US	en_US.UTF-8
dc.relation	https://opus.lib.uts.edu.au/bitstream/10453/194701/1/thesis.pdf
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.rights	The author owns the copyright in this thesis including all reproduction and reuse rights for the work. The work may not be altered without the permission of the copyright owner. Attribution is essential when quoting or paraphrasing from this thesis.
dc.rights	© 2025 Farzan Tahir
dc.rights	au.edu.uts.lib/cph
dc.title	Exploring the social dimensions of rural and remote microgrids in Australia's shift towards sustainable energy	en_US.UTF-8
dc.type	Thesis
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*

Abstract:

As the global energy transition accelerates, renewable microgrids are emerging as a viable solution for enhancing energy resilience, reliability, and security. In Australia, they are primarily being developed through pilot projects and feasibility studies for remote and regional communities. While there is an extensive body of literature on the techno-economic aspects of microgrids, studies examining the social dimensions of their adoption and the role of community engagement remain limited. This thesis bridges this gap by examining the niche space inhabited by microgrids in Australia today. This thesis employs a qualitative, mixed-method research approach, incorporating semi-structured interviews and surveys. It focused its research on cohorts of a national funding program that provided support to two dozen projects that represented more than one-hundred communities. The methodology features a systematic examination of the community engagement strategies used, the challenges faced, and the factors influencing social acceptance of microgrids at the local level. It was found that there are strong drivers for microgrid adoption in Australia, including energy resilience, reliability, and clean energy integration. However, several barriers impede their progress, including the lack of a clear regulatory framework, financial constraints, uncertain business models, and challenges related to community engagement. A Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) framework is used to analyse the various community engagement strategies being used in Australian microgrid projects. This revealed that several critical steps in community engagement are often overlooked, thus hindering public participation and project success. The results also underscore that a ‘one-size-fits-all’ engagement approach is ineffective, as each community presents unique challenges that require tailored engagement strategies. While resource-intensive engagement fosters greater community acceptance, poorly planned engagement strategies can lead to resistance and opposition to microgrid projects. The insights derived from this research offer practical implications for community leaders, policymakers, community engagement practitioners, microgrid developers, and utilities. The findings emphasise the need for dedicated funding that incorporates community engagement as a core project component, ensuring that adequate resources are allocated for meaningful participatory processes. Additionally, the study highlights the importance of integrating community perspectives into policy frameworks and programs, helping microgrids to transition from niche innovations to mainstream energy solutions. By addressing the gaps regarding the role of local communities in the success of microgrids, this research contributes to advancing clean energy solutions for Australians living in rural and remote communities. This can help position microgrids as a key component within the country’s energy transition.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/194701