Boost for solar industry in East Timor

An ambitious plan by the Alternative Technology Association (ATA) to create a sustainable solar industry in East Timor has received an enormous boost with the initiative being named a finalist in the Google Australia Impact Challenge.

The Solar for Timor plan aims to install 2000 solar lighting systems and train 75 village-based installers in the next two years, delivering an overall 60kW of low-emission solar energy.

It is estimated that at least 20% of all homes in East Timor – about 40,000 – will never be connected to the electricity grid. Many families are forced to use polluting and unhealthy kerosene lamps for lighting.

Donna Luckman, chief executive of the ATA, said Solar for Timor would be an intensification of the work the ATA has been doing in East Timor for over a decade.

“Since 2003, we’ve installed solar lighting in more than 1000 homes, community centres, hospitals and orphanages in remote Timorese villages,” she said. “We have also helped train local technicians to install and maintain solar systems.”

The Google Impact Challenge rewards innovative not-for-profit initiatives that use technology to change lives, with the public asked to vote for their favourite.

The four winning entrants will be announced on October 14 and receive grants of $500,000.

“We’re urging everybody who wants to see a sustainable solar industry in East Timor to vote for Solar for Timor,” Ms Luckman said.

The public can click here to vote: https://impactchallenge.withgoogle.com/australia2014/charity/alternative-technology-association

Maile Carnegie, managing director of Google Australia, praised the Impact Challenge finalists:

“The 10 finalists in the Google Impact Challenge stood out to us thanks to their innovative ideas that use technology to make a big impact on important causes – from tackling environmental crises to making education more accessible to helping Australians better manage their own health and assisting people in need.”

The ATA is Australia’s leading not-for-profit organisation promoting household renewable energy, sustainable design and water saving. For more information on our work in East Timor: http://www.ata.org.au/what-we-do/ipg

ATA publishes ReNew: technology for a sustainable future, and Sanctuary: modern green homes, magazines.

ATA – Alternative Technology Association
ABN: 57 533 056 318
Level 1, 39 Little Collins St, Melbourne, 3000
Reception: 03 9639 1500
Fax: 03 9639 5814
ata@ata.org.au
www.ata.org.au