- You can read all about the main program for the Monday 16 and Tuesday 17 June below, including plenary sessions and breakout sessions
- To find out more about the Congress Social Event on the evening of Monday 16 June, head to Social Networking Event 16 June
- There are five side training events on topics related to progressing a community energy project being held at the ANU on Sunday 15 and Wednesday 18 June. Check them out and register at Training Side-Events, 15 and 18 June
- For all those renewable energy developers out there, while we hope you will attend the full Congress, we are excited to be partnering with SERREE: South East Region of Renewable Energy Excellence to offer an Community-Industry Nexus Package. Find out more and register at Community-Industry Nexis 16 June
Congress program below.
[/av_textblock] [av_table purpose=’tabular’ caption=” responsive_styling=’avia_responsive_table’] [av_row row_style=’avia-pricing-row’][av_cell col_style=’avia-highlight-col’]Day 1 – Monday 16 June
[/av_cell][av_cell col_style=”][/av_cell][/av_row] [av_row row_style=”][av_cell col_style=’avia-highlight-col’]8 – 9am[/av_cell][av_cell col_style=”]REGISTRATION
[/av_cell][/av_row] [av_row row_style=”][av_cell col_style=’avia-highlight-col’]9 – 10.15am[/av_cell][av_cell col_style=”]Welcome to the Congress and Keynote Addresses
The opening plenary of the Community Energy Congress is designed to do what all good opening plenaries do:
- Welcome you to Country and to the event
- Provide an overview of what you are in for, for the next two days
- Meet the key actors who will be guiding the Congress program – our two facilitators – Geoff Brown and Mark Spain and some of the event organisers
- Learn some key logistical information and
- Perhaps most importantly be inspired and challenged.
You will hear from three leaders in the field of community energy specifically and renewable energy more generally – Mayor Arno Zengle, Ivor Frischneckt and Simon Holmes a Court. We hope they will inspire you with what is possible both internationally and here in Australia, outline opportunities, pose questions and challenges that we collectively face as a community energy sector.
[/av_cell][/av_row] [av_row row_style=”][av_cell col_style=’avia-highlight-col’]10.15 – 11.00am[/av_cell][av_cell col_style=”]Introducing the Australian Community Energy Sector
The people at the Congress are a significant number of the people that make up Australia’s community energy sector. This session is an opportunity to map visually the breadth and depth of the Australian Community Energy Sector. It’s your chance to meet people who are working on community energy projects, in community energy support organisations, people who work in policy, in renewable energy development, in the mainstream electricity industry and more. In this session, which is led by our facilitators Mark Spain and Geoff Brown, they will invite you to reflect and share what you want to bring to the Congress and what you want to achieve while you are here.[/av_cell][/av_row] [av_row row_style=”][av_cell col_style=’avia-highlight-col’]11-11.30am[/av_cell][av_cell col_style=”]Morning Tea and Expo[/av_cell][/av_row] [av_row row_style=”][av_cell col_style=’avia-highlight-col’]11.30 – 12.30pm[/av_cell][av_cell col_style=”]
Community Energy Policy Futures
Our elected officials can have a profound effect on community energy projects, in this session hear from three (4) politicians on community energy policy opportunities, commitments and challenges and how community energy could impact the national debate. This session is a chance to ask how different political parties and different governments (state, territory and federal) can and will support the growth of a vibrant community energy sector in Australia.
On the panel we have Simon Corbell – ACT Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development, Christine Milne – Leader of the Australian Greens and Gary Gray – Shadow Minister for Resources.
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[av_row row_style=”][av_cell col_style=’avia-highlight-col’]12.30 – 1pm[/av_cell][av_cell col_style=”]
Launch of the Coalition for Community Energy and Pathways Forward
You have probably heard about the Coalition for Community Energy by now, but you are not alone if you’re not exactly sure what it is, what it does and how you can get involved. In this session we will formally launch the Coalition for Community Energy and answer these three questions. You will also hear from David Green, OEB, on the potential for community energy in Australian and internationally and the importance and power of collaboration to forging a clean energy future.
Everyone who becomes a C4CE Member before and during the Congress will go into the draw for a scrumptious Capital District Hamper of local food and beverage goodies.[/av_cell][/av_row]
[av_row row_style=’avia-heading-row’][av_cell col_style=’avia-highlight-col’]1 – 2pm[/av_cell][av_cell col_style=”]Lunch and Expo[/av_cell][/av_row]
[av_row row_style=”][av_cell col_style=’avia-highlight-col’]2 – 3.30pm[/av_cell][av_cell col_style=”]BREAKOUT 01[/av_cell][/av_row]
[av_row row_style=”][av_cell col_style=’avia-highlight-col’]3.30 – 4pm[/av_cell][av_cell col_style=”]Afternoon Tea and Expo[/av_cell][/av_row]
[av_row row_style=”][av_cell col_style=’avia-highlight-col’]4pm – 5.30pm[/av_cell][av_cell col_style=”]BREAKOUT 02[/av_cell][/av_row]
[av_row row_style=’avia-heading-row’][av_cell col_style=’avia-highlight-col’]5.30 – 7.30pm[/av_cell][av_cell col_style=”]Congress Social Event[/av_cell][/av_row]
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Day 2 – Tuesday 17 June
[/av_cell][av_cell col_style=”][/av_cell][/av_row] [av_row row_style=”][av_cell col_style=’avia-highlight-col’]8 – 9am[/av_cell][av_cell col_style=”]REGISTRATION – (AT OLD PARLIAMENT HOUSE)
[/av_cell][/av_row] [av_row row_style=”][av_cell col_style=’avia-highlight-col’]9 – 12pm[/av_cell][av_cell col_style=”]Shaping a National Community Energy Strategy – (AT OLD PARLIAMENT HOUSE)
In this three hour session, we will first hear from Rob Stokes, NSW Environment Minister and champion of community energy on how the NSW Government is supporting community energy projects. Then inspired, we will together shape a National Community Energy Strategy. Click here to read an Invitation to help shape a National Community Energy Strategy and Summary of the work done to date.[/av_cell][/av_row] [av_row row_style=’avia-heading-row’][av_cell col_style=’avia-highlight-col’]12 – 1.15pm[/av_cell][av_cell col_style=”]Lunch[/av_cell][/av_row] [av_row row_style=”][av_cell col_style=’avia-highlight-col’]1.15 – 2.40pm[/av_cell][av_cell col_style=”]BREAKOUT 03[/av_cell][/av_row] [av_row row_style=”][av_cell col_style=’avia-highlight-col’]2.40 – 3pm[/av_cell][av_cell col_style=”]Afternoon Tea and Expo[/av_cell][/av_row] [av_row row_style=”][av_cell col_style=’avia-highlight-col’]3 – 4.15pm[/av_cell][av_cell col_style=”]BREAKOUT 04[/av_cell][/av_row] [av_row row_style=”][av_cell col_style=’avia-highlight-col’]4.15 – 4.45pm[/av_cell][av_cell col_style=”]Wrap-up and close Conference[/av_cell][/av_row] [av_row row_style=”][av_cell col_style=’avia-highlight-col’]4.45pm[/av_cell][av_cell col_style=”]End of program[/av_cell][/av_row] [/av_table] [av_section color=’socket_color’ custom_bg=’#339999′ src=” attachment=” position=’top left’ repeat=’no-repeat’ attach=’scroll’ padding=’default’ shadow=’no-shadow’ id=”] [av_textblock ]
Each Breakout Session has four themed groups.
[/av_textblock] [av_iconlist position=’left’] [av_iconlist_item title=’Introduction to Community Energy ‘ link=” linktarget=” icon=’ue80b’ font=’entypo-fontello’] An introduction to the sector, featuring stories from successful community energy projects and models in Australia and around the world.[/av_iconlist_item] [av_iconlist_item title=’The Energy Sector’ link=” linktarget=” icon=’ue866′ font=’entypo-fontello’] What you need to know about the old centralised energy system and the emerging decentralised system, including regulation, technologies and opportunities.
[/av_iconlist_item] [av_iconlist_item title=’Who’s who in the community energy zoo’ link=” linktarget=” icon=’ue8e1′ font=’entypo-fontello’] Who needs to be involved to make it happen, and who else could benefit from community energy.
[/av_iconlist_item] [av_iconlist_item title=’Making projects happen’ link=” linktarget=” icon=’ue82e’ font=’entypo-fontello’] The nuts and bolts of getting projects off the ground including getting organised, overcoming opposition and advocacy.
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Monday 16 June: 2-3.30pm
INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNITY ENERGY – Theatre
Introduction to community energy and stories
THE ENERGY SECTOR – Conference Room
Introduction to the energy market
MAKING PROJECTS HAPPEN – Ferguson Room
Getting bioenergy and hydro projects up and running
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Introduction to community energy and stories
Venue: Theatre
Facilitator: Jarra Hicks
Are you excited about the idea of community energy? Keen to hear some inspiring stories and understand more about what is possible and the benefits community energy projects bring? Want to know more about how partnerships between communities and Developers can work? This session will run through the history and diversity of community energy both internationally and here in Australia – from 100% renewable energy islands to community-Developer partnerships delivering wind power. Hear from some of Australia’s leading community energy project proponents about what is possible on the ground and how their projects have transformed their communities, specifically you will hear from:
Shota Furuya, Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies, Japan. Shota has worked on support activities for communities to start up renewable energy projects across Japan. He has expertise on community and capacity building.
Lawrence McIntosh. Lawrence is the project leader and a founder of SolarShare Canberra. SolarShare is community solar project in Canberra focused on including members of our community in the transition to a sustainable future by involving them in the business of renewable energy generation.
Euan Beamont, Director. Euan is Co-Founder/Director of Energy Farmers Australia. He and his business partner, Tom Vogan, established Energy Farmers because we believe that agriculture and bioenergy run hand in hand. Our vision is for farmers to be better utilising their agricultural wastes and running bioenergy projects that supply bio-energy (electricity and fuels) to the wider community
Charlie Prell, Regional Renewable Energy Alliance, Crookwell, NSW. The Regional Renewable Energy Alliance is a group of 150 farmers, landholders and small business with an interest in the wind industry whose objective is to encourage the development of well designed wind farms in regional areas. Charlie is a farmer and a strong advocate for communities owning shares in the wind farms built in their area.
Rachel Young, Communication Director, CENREC. CENREC is a community renewable energy cooperative that is working to buy a turbine in a large wind farm development. Rachael Young coordinates communications for the cooperative.
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Introduction to the energy market
Venue: Conference Room
Presenters: Craig Memery & Mark Byrne
Are you confused by the energy system, not sure who you need to talk to as part of developing your community energy project? Or are you new to the energy system entirely? Then this session is for you; this session will give attendees a potted overview of stuff you need to know about how the National Electricity Market (NEM) (both physical and financial) effects community energy projects. Hear from Craig Memery and Mark Byrne from the Total Environment Centre, who advocate on behalf of community energy projects in the energy market.
Craig Memery is the energy market specialist and energy consumer advocate with the Alternative Technology Association. Established in 1980, the ATA is a not-for-profit organisation that exists to connect, inspire and assist people to make sustainable choices in their homes and communities. Craig is funded by the Consumer Advocacy Panel to advocate for more affordable and sustainable energy supply for all Australian energy consumers.
Mark Byrne is Energy Market Advocate at the Total Environment Centre. TEC has been active in National Energy market advocacy for a decade, and is currently focused on rule changes to increase demand management and lower network charges for decentralised energy.
[/av_tab] [av_tab title=’MAKING PROJECTS HAPPEN’ icon_select=’yes’ icon=’ue82e’ font=’entypo-fontello’]Getting bioenergy and hydro projects up and running
Venue: Ferguson Room
Presenters: Paul Cruickshank & Jack Gilding
Most of the focus of community energy projects in Australia currently is on wind and solar, however internationally community bioenergy and small hydro projects are plentiful. This session will describe existing Australian community and commercial initiatives in bioenergy and small hydro and discuss some of the particular issues raised by these projects including environmental impact, social licence and feedstocks. The session will be led by Paul Cruickshank and Jack Gilding.
Paul Cruickshank is a Regional Coordinator with the NSW Government Renewable Energy Precincts Program. He has recently organised a series of regional forums on bioenergy potential.
Jack Gilding is the Executive Officer of the Tasmanian Renewable Energy Alliance and has recently worked on a feasibility study for a small hydro project on the Hobart water supply system. He was formerly the Executive Officer of Hepburn Wind in Victoria.
[/av_tab] [/av_tab_container] [/av_section] [av_section color=’main_color’ custom_bg=” src=” attachment=” position=’top left’ repeat=’no-repeat’ attach=’scroll’ padding=’default’ shadow=’no-shadow’ id=’session02′] [av_heading tag=’h2′ padding=’0′ heading=’Breakout 02′ color=” style=’blockquote modern-quote’ custom_font=” size=” subheading_active=” subheading_size=” custom_class=”][/av_heading] [av_tab_container position=’sidebar_tab sidebar_tab_left’ boxed=’border_tabs’ initial=’1′] [av_tab title=’SESSIONS & VENUES’ icon_select=’yes’ icon=’ue862′ font=’entypo-fontello’]Monday 16 June: 4-5.30pm
INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNITY ENERGY – Conference Room
Models of successful community energy
WHO’S WHO IN THE ZOO – Meeting Room 3/4
Councils and Community Energy
MAKING PROJECTS HAPPEN – Ferguson Room
Not just talking about my generation: other opportunities
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Models of successful community energy
Venue: Conference Room
Facilitator: Nicky Ison
One of the benefits and challenges of community energy is the shear diversity of projects. They vary by technology, scale, ownership structure and more. Policy settings, market regulation, institutional arrangements, the physical environment and more all help to shape what models of community energy project will work in a particularly context or location and what won’t. This session will outline in detail the most viable models for community energy projects in Australia, how they work from legal models, to financing structures, to community engagement and more.
Hear from the following community energy proponents:
Bruce Thompson from Moreland Energy Foundation on low-income solar environmental upgrade agreements. Bruce has been with MEFL for 10 years and is currently responsible for the coordination and development of MEFL’s major projects and business services including training and consultancy. As part of his role Bruce led the $10 million Moreland Solar City Project, and is responsible for the establishment of MEFL’s new flagship social enterprise, Positive Charge.
Christina Kirsch from ClearSky Solar Investment on their model of community solar. Christina Kirsch is a registered organisational psychologist, researcher, lecturer and the coordinator of industry partnerships and external relations at the School of Information Technologies at the University of Sydney. She is currently the Convenor of the Northern Beaches Chapter of Clean Energy for Eternity and founder and director of the community renewable energy company ClearSky Solar Investments Ltd.
Adam Blakester from Starfish Initiatives on the Embark Model. Adam is involved with solarfarm and windfarm community energy projects with Embark, as part of his work with Starfish Initiatives’ Farming the Sun and New England Wind projects. Adam believes community energy is one of the most promising sustainability sweet spots for genuine social, financial and environmental resilience.
Chris Cooper from REpower Shoalhaven on their model being developed in collaboration with the Difference Incubator. Chris is an entrepreneur, researcher and founder/president of REpower Shoalhaven Inc. Chris is also Research Associate at the Institute for Sustainable Futures at UTS.
[/av_tab] [av_tab title=’WHO”S WHO IN THE ZOO’ icon_select=’yes’ icon=’ue8e1′ font=’entypo-fontello’]Councils and Community Energy
Venue: Conference Room
Facilitator: Franziska Mey
Local governments can and do play an important role in facilitating and supporting community energy projects. In this session you will hear from Council representatives leading the way on community energy – from Wildpoldsried in Germany, to the City of Sydney, the Surf Coast and Lismore Council. However, there are challenges for community groups working with councils, in this session participants will troubleshoot these challenges and look at the ways to maximise opportunities of working with councils.
In this session you will hear from Mayor Arno Zengle and the following Australian council representatives:
Sharyn Hunnisett is the Environmental Strategies Officer at Lismore City Council. Lismore City Council has partnered with Farming the Sun to establish a community solar farm at two of their sites. This project will form a key part of Council’s Renewable Energy Master Plan, with the goal to self-generate all the Councils electricity needs from renewable resources by 2023.
Chris Barrett is Commercial Manager Green Infrastructure with the City of Sydney. The City is working on ways to foster large scale roll out of low-carbon and no-carbon energy in the local area, with the aim of reducing carbon emissions by 70 per cent by 2030. Community-based initiatives are expected to make an important contribution to achieving the City’s targets.
Eve Fisher a Surf Coast Shire Greens councillor whose biggest passion lies with community energy. After spending three months abroad discovering a world of community possiblities she came home to realise that little can happen in Australia unless the laws around feed-in tariffs, wind farms and grid priority change in favour of community energy. Her focus now is to lobby for change and encourage community groups to highlight the value of decrentralised, local energy.
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Not just talking about my generation – other opportunities
Venue: Ferguson Room
Facilitator: Donna Luckman, CEO, ATA
This session will provide participants with an overview of sustainable energy tools, beyond just generation, that communities can access. Hear about how the energy storage revolution will transform the community energy landscape, how demand management can integrate with renewable energy and reduce energy costs for communities, and how electric vehicles might fit into it all. Learn how community owned minigrids can operate in harmony with the existing network or do away with it altogether. Discuss what it would take to integrate these energy solutions into your community energy project.
In this session you will hear from:
Miguel Brandao, GE’s Smart Grid Technical Solutions Director. Mark is working with both utilities on the evolving models of the future in a smarter grid, and project developers for Microgrid projects. Miguel is also driving the introduction of GE’s Durathon battery in Australia. Miguel holds a Masters of Environmental Social Science from University of East Anglia in the UK, and was an ATA volunteer.
Dr Paul Troughton, EnerNOC. Paul manages regulatory affairs for EnerNOC in Australia and New Zealand, which means he spends a lot of time talking to economists about energy market design; however, he’s really an engineer. EnerNOC helps large energy consumers use energy more intelligently, pay less for it, and earn money from participating in demand response programmes
Tosh Szatow, Director and co-founder of Energy for the People. Tosh is an energy geek, providing the glue on projects to ensure the economics, engineering, human stuff and market regulation pieces are all joined up. Energy for the People a business with a social purpose focused on creating a citizen powered energy market.
Doug Rolfe, ATA’s branch coordinator and resident electric vehicle guru. Dough has a history of involvement with grassroots environmental groups and qualifications in science, technology, education and renewable energy.
[/av_tab] [/av_tab_container] [/av_section] [av_section color=’main_color’ custom_bg=’#f4f4f4′ src=” attachment=” position=’top left’ repeat=’no-repeat’ attach=’scroll’ padding=’default’ shadow=’no-shadow’ id=’Session03′] [av_heading tag=’h2′ padding=’0′ heading=’Breakout 03′ color=” style=’blockquote modern-quote’ custom_font=” size=” subheading_active=” subheading_size=” custom_class=”][/av_heading] [av_tab_container position=’sidebar_tab sidebar_tab_left’ boxed=’border_tabs’ initial=’1′] [av_tab title=’SESSIONS & VENUES’ icon_select=’yes’ icon=’ue862′ font=’entypo-fontello’]Tuesday 17 June: 1.15-2.40pm
INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNITY ENERGY – Meeting Room 3/4
Community engagement and community building
THE ENERGY SECTOR – Ferguson Room
Energy networks: living with ‘em, living without ‘em
WHO’S WHO IN THE ZOO – Theatre
Show me the money: Funding and financing community energy projects
MAKING PROJECTS HAPPEN – Conference Room
Getting community solar projects up and running
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Community engagement and community building
Venue: Meeting Room 3/4
Presenters: Jarra Hicks & Taryn Lane
How do you build the vision and support for your project in the community? Community engagement is essential for delivering long-term positive outcomes in communities in ways that enhance people’s understanding of renewable energy, strengthen their ability to work together and deliver the most benefit for the most people. This session will help you to develop strategies for getting a broad base of understanding and support for your community energy project, it will also help you build an engaged and committed group of people to drive the project forward. Community engagement is an essential aspect of a community energy project and is the means through which a project ‘comes alive’ in the hearts and minds of people. This workshop is action-oriented and will draw on the community engagement and community organising experience of Hepburn Wind and Mount Alexander Community Wind.
The session will be led by Jarra Hicks and Taryn Lane.
Jarra Hicks is a Founding Director of the Community Power Agency and PhD Candidate at the University of New South Wales. She is researching the potential for community energy projects to contribute positive social, economic and environmental outcomes for regional communities in Australia. Jarra spent two years as the Project Coordinator of Mount Alexander Community Wind in Central Victoria.
Taryn Lane works for Australia’s first community-owned wind farm Hepburn Wind – delivering industry best standards in community engagement since 2010. Taryn also works for Embark – an NGO set up to kickstart the emerging Australian community energy sector since 2012. In these roles, she supports other communities around Australia who are on the journey to build their own projects. She has extensive local and international community development experience.
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Energy networks – living with ‘em, living without ‘em
Venue: Ferguson Room
Facilitator: Edward Langham
Groups across Australia are facing the challenges of connecting generators to the grid and need an understanding of the ins-and-outs of this process to get their projects off the ground. At the same time, as more local energy projects are developed, and new energy storage products enter the market, there is growing interest in self-sufficiency and communities taking ownership of their local grid. The first half of the session brings network representatives and community groups together to better understand how we can get more efficient and effective connections here and now. The second half casts a gaze further to the future, to debate the multi-million dollar question – will community energy projects stay connected to the grid, go it alone, or look at taking ownership? Does this present a threat or an opportunity for grid companies?
In this session you will hear from:
Alicia Webb is a Senior Policy Advisor at the Clean Energy Council, having previously worked as a wind engineering consultant. The Clean Energy Council is Australia’s peak industry body representing the renewable energy industry
Tosh Szatow is an energy geek, providing the glue on projects to ensure the economics, engineering, human stuff and market regulation pieces are all joined up. Tosh is Director and co-founder of Energy for the People, a business with a social purpose focused on creating a citizen powered energy market
Simon Holmes a Court is the founding chairman of Hepburn Wind,and founder and chairman of Embark, the non-profit peak body representing and supporting communities that seek to play a significant role in their own carbon-neutral energy production.
Anant Singh – Account Manager, Embedded Generation ActewAGL Distribution. ActewAGL Distribution partnership is equally owned by Jemena Networks (ACT) Pty Ltd (a subsidiary of SPI (Australia) Assets Pty Ltd) and ACTEW Distribution Ltd (a subsidiary of ACTEW Corporation Ltd). ActewAGL Distribution owns and operates the electricity network in the ACT and the gas network in the ACT, Shoalhaven and Queanbeyan regions. My role is Account Manager Embedded Generation and mainly deals with the connection of embedded generators to our network.
Dr Stuart Johnston – Program Manager, Energy & Gas Infrastructure Energy Networks Association. The Energy Network Association (ENA) is the peak national body representing gas and electricity transmission and distribution businesses throughout Australia. My role with ENA is as the Program Manager, Energy & Gas Infrastructure Energy Networks Association and mainly deals with managing the work programs of ENA’s Asset Management Committee (AMC) and Gas Committee (GC).
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Show me the money – Funding and financing community energy projects
Venue: Theatre
Facilitator: Nicky Ison
Community energy projects have significant fundraising and financing needs. In this session participants will hear from, ask questions of and build relationships with experts in a range of fundraising and financing fields – from crowdfunding to securing a bank loan to applying for philanthropic and government grants.
Hear from:
Mark Squires – Mark is currently leading a NSW Government program to engage regional communities in the development of renewable energy systems to support a 20% renewable energy target by 2020. The Regional Clean Energy Program has been in place since 2010 and involves six regional coordinators who provide information and support services to regional communities, local Councils, the renewable energy industry and individual landholders.
Dr John McKinnon – John is a director of the Australian Environmental Grantmakers network as well as a number of other non-profit boards. John, together with his wife Sue, currently manages the McKinnon Family Foundation following careers in finance and international development. The Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network is a group of environmental philanthropists committed to collaboration and greater effectiveness in environmental giving.
Lara Olsen – Lara leads the strategy at ARENA (Australian Renewable Energy Agency). In this role, she is responsible for ARENA’s General Funding Strategy which outlines ARENA’s priorities and the proportion of funds between different programs. Prior to ARENA she founded two energy start up businesses and worked at the Boston Consulting Group for 8 years.
Tom Dawkins – Tom is a serial social entrepreneur and the Australian co-founder of StartSomeGood. He previously founded award-winning Australia non-profit Vibewire and was the first Social Media Director at Ashoka. He has worked with numerous non-profits, associations and government entities to help them tell their stories and build community.
David Carbines – David leads the Difference Incubator’s social enterprise capacity building program. Combining a background in retail operations with strategy and operations consulting. The Difference Incubator grows social enterprises and structures impact investment opportunities that blend social and financial value.
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Getting community solar projects up and running
Venue: Conference Room
Facilitator: Christina Kirsch
Across Australia there are at the very minimum over 30 community solar projects in development. This session will focus on what it will take to get these projects to a point where they are operating successfully benefiting communities. How do we as a sector overcome the common challenges facing community solar projects and maximise the shared opportunities? This will be an opportunity for community solar proponents from across Australia to share ideas, information and identify next steps.
In this session you will hear from:
Prue Kelly – Prue has been an Executive Member of Clean Energy for Eternity, Inc in 2007 and elected CEFE Secretary in 2010. She has co-ordinated regional Federal Election Candidates forums, two residential solar bulk buy programs in SE NSW, and conducted major community fundraising events for renewable energy in her region. Prue has a strong business background and is currently CEFE Project Manager of the Tathra Community Solar Farmat Tathra, NSW Far South Coast.
Warren Yates – Warren is retired from his academic position as professor of Electrical Engineering at UTS in 2002. He formed the Mosman Chapter of Clean Energy for Eternity in 2006 and served as a Councillor on Mosman Council from 2008-12. He is currently the Treasurer and Public Officer of Clean Energy for Eternity and a director of the social enterprise ClearSky Solar Investments Limited
Iain McGregor, Smart Commercial Solar- Iain is a Commercial Solar Electricity Analyst and Project Developer and long-time participant in community environmental movements. Iain is the Developer of the 6 up and operating community solar projects that are on the roof for Clearsky Solar Investments.
Monica Oliphant – Monica Oliphant runs her own Consultancy, “Monica Oliphant Research Scientist”; specialising in Residential Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy and Community Solar”. She is an Adj/A Professor at 3 Australian Universities and worked 18 years in the Electricity supply industry. She was President of the International Solar Energy Society – a UN NGO – 2008/09. She has served on a number of Federal and State Government Energy Related Committees.
Andrew Reddaway – Andrew is an Energy Analyst at the Alternative Technology Association. He has expertise in modelling energy and business operations, including experience working with the Australian Energy Market Operator.
Peter Cook – Peter is the president of Dandenong Ranges Renewable Energy Association and a board member of Ranges Energy which is working to establish a Hepburn Wind style community owned solar farm in Victoria.
Dr Heinz-Joachim (Jo) Muller – Jo used to work as senior research scientist in industry. Now runs a small solar business ‘Sun2Steam’. Initiator and secretary of Central Coast Community Energy Association Inc. (cccommunityenergy.org)
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[av_tab title=’SESSIONS & VENUES’ icon_select=’yes’ icon=’ue862′ font=’entypo-fontello’]
Tuesday 17 June: 3-4.15pm
INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNITY ENERGY – Theatre
The policy context: government policies & initiatives
THE ENERGY SECTOR – Ferguson Room
Options for selling energy
WHO’S WHO IN THE ZOO – Meeting Room 3/4
Community Energy as a Regional Development Strategy
MAKING PROJECTS HAPPEN – Conference Room
Getting wind projects up and running
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[av_tab title=’INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNITY ENERGY’ icon_select=’yes’ icon=’ue80b’ font=’entypo-fontello’]
The policy context – government policies & initiatives
Venue: Theatre
Facilitator: Erland Howden
Whether we like it or not, government policies impact the viability of community energy projects – they can both enhance or hinder. This session will explore how current government policies are impacting on the community energy sector; in particular the speakers will focus on the Renewable Energy Target, Direct Action, the ACT Government’s community solar and wind policies, ARENA the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and more. Hear from:
Lindsay Soutar – Founder and National Director, Solar Citizens. Solar Citizens is an advocacy group set up to represent the rights of solar owners and everyone who wants to go solar across Australia. Lindsay has spent over 8 years as a campaigner and community organiser working for a.renewable powered future. She lives in Sydney with 2kw of solar on her roof and a gum tree in the backyard. Lindsay is former Young Environmentalist of the Year.
Steve Blume, President of the Australian Solar Council (AuSES – Australian Solar Energy Society Limited Pty Ltd) and CEO, NoCarbon Pty Ltd. Steve creates partnerships to plan, design deliver large scale commercial and community solar and renewable & storage projects. Steve is a former Vice President of the International Solar Energy Society and his career has covered political adviser and private sector senior executive, policy creator, change management consultant, business manager and public servant.
David Green – CEO of the Clean Energy Council. David has previously been the founding Chief Executive of the UK Business Council for Sustainable Energy. He holds the Award for Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Energy made by the UK Parliamentary Renewable and Sustainable Energy Group. In the UK, David co-founded and launched the national charity Neighbourhood (now National) Energy Action and is now a Vice President of National Energy Action. David is an Executive Director of the International Council for Sustainable Energy, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a Fellow of the Energy Institute.
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[av_tab title=’THE ENERGY SECTOR’ icon_select=’yes’ icon=’ue866′ font=’entypo-fontello’]
Options for selling energy
Venue: Ferguson Room
Facilitator: Mark Byrne
To date the fundamental source of revenue for community energy projects is selling electricity. This session will give attendees an overview of the current energy sale options, impediments & advocacy opportunities for their project. From engaging with an existing retailer, to selling directly to a customer, Virtual Net Metering and selling Renewable Energy Certificates there are a surprising number of options.
In this session you will hear from:
Simon Homes a Court on negotiating a Power Purchase Agreement. Simon is the founding chairman of Hepburn Wind,and founder and chairman of Embark, the non-profit peak body representing and supporting communities that seek to play a significant role in their own carbon-neutral energy production.
Mark Byrne on is Virtual Net Metering. Mark is an Energy Market Advocate at the Total Environment Centre. TEC has been active in national electricity market advocacy for a decade, and is currently focused on rule changes to increase demand management incentives for networks and lower network charges for decentralised energy.
Robert Rosen on direct selling. Robert has had 35 years involvement in environmental issues and played an active role in the development of the Australian ethical investment industry. He helps finance local commercial solar projects and is a member of the SustainNorthern Rivers Energy Working Group and Byron Shire’s Sustainability and Biodiversity Advisory Committee.
Gary Eisner on Green Power. Gary has considerable knowledge of Australia’s renewable energy industry, which he has gained over nine years working in the public sector. He has worked on the National GreenPower Accreditation Program since 2006, taking over as the Program’s National Manager in 2008. Throughout his career, Gary has excelled in various other roles for the Office of the Minister for Resources and Energy and the Office of the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer, and completed a Masters of Environmental Management at the University of New South Wales in 2005.
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[av_tab title=’WHO’S WHO IN THE ZOO’ icon_select=’yes’ icon=’ue8e1′ font=’entypo-fontello’]
Community Energy as a Regional Development Strategy
Venue: Meeting Room 3/4
Facilitator: Adam Blakester
Across the world regional communities, regional development agencies and a range of other regional actors are coming together to develop community energy projects motivated by the regional economic development benefits they bring. For example US wind farms with a community ownership component at least double the economic benefit to a local community. Hear from leading Australian regional development players about why they are excited about community energy projects as drought proofing, job creating initiatives for regional Australia.
In this session you will hear from:
Deane Belfield is an entrepreneur with a background in engineering, business and renewable energy. Deane has been involved in establishing financially viable innovative community based renewable energy solutions that work, with hands on experience with solar PV, solar thermal, biofuels, biomass and biochar. Deane has been inspired by the Blue Economy model and brings access to leading approaches in industrial ecology from around the world, with the skills and knowledge to address the critical requirements for integrated regional clean energy solutions.
Liz Veitch, who manages the projects and strategic communications of Regional Development Australia ACT. Her current focus is on building on the SERREE (South East Region of Renewable Energy Excellence) initiative to form an Industry Cluster – developing the ACT-Australian Capital Region as a national exemplar of renewable energy excellence to promote environmental, economic and social benefit.
Jack Archer is General Manager- Research and Policy at the Regional Australia Institute’s, where he leads research program and policy development work, building on his previous work on major regional reforms related to water, climate change and industry development. Originally from Paterson in the lower Hunter Valley of NSW, Jack now lives in the hills west of Canberra.
Peter Hansford who is a former trade commissioner and agribusiness executive with a passion for sustainability. After 20 years in international trade he worked with the Victorian government as a Senior Policy Advisor on Climate Change and Industry and Manager of Clean technology. He has also been president of the Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group and is the founder of Low carbon Kimberley and co-founder of the Macedon Ranges Community Wind farm project and the Melbourne Cleantech Network.
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[av_tab title=’MAKING PROJECTS HAPPEN’ icon_select=’yes’ icon=’ue82e’ font=’entypo-fontello’]
Getting wind projects up and running
Venue: Conference Room
Facilitator: Taryn Lane
In Australia we have two operating community wind projects with a number more in development. These projects range from community lead wind-farms to communities partnering with wind developers on larger projects. This session will talk through the technical, physical and social factors of getting community wind projects off the ground. In particular, this session will focus on addressing the challenges and maximising the opportunities currently facing community wind groups and larger wind developers engaging with communities.
Leigh Ewbank is Friends of the Earth Yes2Renewables lead campaigner. He works with communities who support more renewable energy and is known on King Island as the Vegemite Man.
Alicia Webb is a Senior Policy Advisor at the Clean Energy Council, having previously worked as a wind engineering consultant. The Clean Energy Council is Australia’s peak industry body representing the renewable energy industry.
Other presenters include: Rowan Gallagher from Freemantle Wind Farm Co-operative, Mick Lewin from MACRenewables, Pat Bradbury from CENREC, Barry Mann from WISE.
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