10:00 am
Renewable energy communities
Three days of inspiring content
The 2024 congress theme was Fast, Fair & Vital, in recognition of the speed of transition, the values and outcomes that communities want in the energy transition, and the vital nature of energy to everyday lives and businesses.
Here you will find a Program Overview, with detailed Schedules below that. Within the schedules, click on the ‘+‘ to reveal the list of speakers and click on the button at the bottom of each speaker list for session details and recordings.
Or to go directly to a section, use the buttons here.
Schedules
Session details & recordings
Other information
Overview
Day 1 – Wednesday, March 6
Day 2 – Thursday, March 7
Day 3 – Friday, March 8
Schedule – Day 1
Wed March 6
8:00 AM
Registration Opens
Room E5.4 – E5.5
9:00 AM
Smart Energy Expo Welcome and Keynote
Australia’s Energy Transition
Exhibition Hall
10:00 AM
Welcome to the Community Energy Congress
Room E5.4 - E5.5
- Acknowledgement of Country
- Welcome to all the remote hubs and folk online who joined us
- Stefan Gsänger IRENA Coalition of Action Community Energy Working group
- Lily D’Ambrosio Minister for Energy, Victoria recorded video welcome
- Heather Smith Chair of the Coalition for Community Energy
10:20 AM
Renewable Energy Communities
Hear from community energy icons about the journey of transforming communities. What can we learn to speed up our own journeys?
- Chaired by Graham Hunt Renew, Australian Insitute of Architects
- Daniel Redman RePower Shoalhaven
- Matt Charles-Jones Totally Renewable Yackandandah (unfortunately Matt was sick)
- Anne Kennedy Zero Emissions Noosa
- Geoff Park Renewable Newstead
11:30 AM
Morning Tea
12:00 PM
Keynote: Australia’s energy future
Five visionaries, Four different visions. Where we’re going, what we need to do, how we can ensure success.
- Chaired by Anne Delaney RenewEconomy and editor of SwitchedOn
- Saul Griffiths Founder & Chief Scientist, Rewiring Australia
- Lauren Mellor Original Power
- Scott McDinny Borroloola Community Project
- Brendan French CEO, Energy Consumers Australia
- Dr Sophie Scamps MP Fedeal Member for Mackellar
1:15 PM
Lunch
2:00 PM
Workshop: Creating the community renewable vision
Workshop: Together we will investigate the most significant things that support households and communities to change.
- Workshop lead Brian Spak Director, Energy System Transition, Energy Consumers Australia
- Workshop Design Moragh Mackay Mycelia Renewables
- and with thanks to volunteer facilitators around the country…
3:30 PM
Afternoon tea (15 mins)
4:00 PM
Finance & partnerships
Going FAST relies on resources. Hear about sources of finance and support that successful community energy projects have leveraged.
- Chaired by Vikki McLeod Zero Emissions Brisbane, QUT
- Christina Kirsch Clearsky Solar and Clean Energy for Eternity
- Briony O’Shea CORENA
- Jonathan Prendergast Komo Energy
5:15 PM
Expo networking drinks
Hall 5, Smart Energy Council booth
Schedule – Day 2
Thurs March 7
8:00 AM
Registration Opens
Room E5.4 – E5.5
9:00 AM
Smart Energy Expo Keynote
Australia’s Smart Energy Opportunity
Exhibition Hall
10:00 AM
Big Renewables & Communities
Room E5.4 - E5.5
Benefit sharing, creating opportunities for meaningful participation in renewable projects and aligning renewable production with community needs.
- Chaired by Kath Elliott Head of Stakeholder and Community Engagement, Squadron Energy
- Kim Mallee Community Power Agency
- Andrew Bray Re-Alliance
- Sabiene Heindl CEO, The Energy Charter (unfortunately Sabiene was sick)
11:30 AM
Morning Tea
12:00 PM
Community Batteries, Microgrids and Controls
What does the technology of the future grid look like? And what can we learn from the pioneering projects that have led the way in Australia?
- Chaired by Leon Chanter ARENA
- Marie Lakey Yarra Energy Foundation
- Sally Hunter Geni Energy
- Chris Wenban Narara Eco-village
- Madie Sturgess Original Power
- Chantelle Johns Original Power
- Tricia Hiley Mallacoota
- Nick Mason Smith Indigo Power
1:15 PM
Lunch
2:00 PM
Electrify Everything
Community energy groups have always led on this front. Bulk buys, facilitated quotes, independent information, trusted suppliers and support. What works best? And what do we need to learn from successful models?
- Chaired by Dr Chris Taylor Reclaim Energy
- Kristen MacDonald Rewiring Australia
- Karina Donkers Geelong Sustainability
- Gavin Gilchrist Inner West Sydney
- Lloyd Heathfield Yarra Energy Foundation
- Colin Long Earthworker Cooperative
3:30 PM
Afternoon tea (15 mins)
3:45 PM
Resilience, Equity and Justice
Harder to deliver, and so much more important. Hear from the innovators working out how to bend our energy systems back toward serving everyone and delivering essentials.
- Chaired by Moragh Mackay Founder, Mycelia Renewables
- JUSTICE
- Scott McDinny Original Power
- Tommy Hicks Indigenous Energy Australia
- EQUITY
- Colin Lambie Bendigo Sustainability Group
- Nigel Hancock Pingala
- RESILIENCE
- Alyson Skinner Venus Bay
- Juliette Milbank Totally Renewable Yackandandah
- Karina Donkers Geelong Sustainability
5:15 PM
Close
Schedule – Day 3
Friday March 8
7:45 AM
Catch the Electric Bus – pickups in Sydney and Hornsby
(train and car are options too)
9:30 AM
Welcome
Narara Community Hall
Arrival & Coffee
Acknowledgement of Country
Introduction to Narara
Workshop Selection
10:15 AM
Workshop 1
Choose from:
- Working with homes & businesses
- Building renewable infrastructure
- Reaching community & creating social glue
- Advocacy & changing the system
11:15 AM
Morning Tea
11:30 AM
90 minute tours
The tour will take you through all the exciting features of Narara Eco-Village
- Visit the Smart Grid heart and hear about control features
- See the Battery (called BESS), find out what Priscilla is too
- Visit a number of sustainable homes
- Electric transport features around the Village will be highlighted
1:00 PM
Locally sourced Lunch & wander around
2:00 PM
Workshop 2 or Permaculture tour
Choose from:
- Working with homes & businesses
- Building renewable infrastructure
- Reaching community & creating social glue
- Advocacy & changing the system
OR spend more time exploring the permaculture and other intentional design features of the Eco-Village
3:00 PM
Afternoon tea
Report back and close
3:30 PM
Electric Bus back to Sydney
Arriving by 5:30pm
Thanks to all our sponsors & partners for their generous support
Supported by the
Victorian Government
