Read time: 3 mins
Based on Assessing the availability and feasibility of renewable energy on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, by Dan Virah-Sawmy, Bjorn Sturmberg, and Daniel Harrison, published June 2025.
A promising anti-bleaching technology for the Great Barrier Reef is powered by diesel generators. ANU experts have found that solar photovoltaic (PV) can be easily added to these generators to reduce their emissions.
Read time: 3 mins
Based on Assessing the availability and feasibility of renewable energy on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, by Dan Virah-Sawmy, Bjorn Sturmberg, and Daniel Harrison, published June 2025.
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Marine cloud brightening technology – which can help protect the Great Barrier Reef from bleaching – is in development. But it burns diesel to work.
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Adding solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and batteries to these generators would reduce their emissions by up to 59 per cent.
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Eventually, emissions from most reef work could be lowered this way. But strong collaboration, especially with Traditional Owners, is needed to navigate the transition.
The Great Barrier Reef, like many marine ecosystems, is being damaged by rising ocean temperatures. So, researchers, supported by the Australian Government’s Reef Trust Partnership, are investigating new technologies to help preserve it.
One option they’re investigating is marine cloud brightening. A prototype technology, the Aerosol Radiation Interaction Experimental Laboratory (ARIEL), was recently developed at Southern Cross University (SCU) to test it.
ARIEL uses seawater to make salt-spray aerosols. These brighten clouds above the ocean. Brighter clouds better shade the water below, cooling it for the coral.
Because ARIEL runs on diesel, experts from the Australian National University (ANU) collaborated with peers at SCU to learn how to reduce its emissions. They found solar PV to be simple and effective.
Solar PV-powered would be cheap, practical and easy to maintain. Installing it to power marine cloud brightening efforts wouldn’t affect the ecosystem much. And, according to the data, adding solar PV to the generators would cut ARIEL’s emissions by up to 59 per cent.
The findings indicate that other reef activities – like fishing, tourism and shipping – would also benefit from using more solar PV.
However, the study also emphasised the need to manage risks. Energy transition is complex, and the reef is delicate. New energy infrastructure always carries risks for the environment.
To identify and manage that risk, rigorous safeguards and assessments are needed. The study noted that regulations work best if developed collaboratively with stakeholders – especially Traditional Owners.
“Adding solar PV to the generators would cut ARIEL’s emissions by up to 59 per cent.”
