When:
Sunday 26 February
Hepburn Wind Tour
The pioneering community energy project in Australia will be opening its gates on Sunday 26 February.
Hepburn Wind and their energy retailer Powershop will host the event out at the wind farm, with international speaker Søren Hermansen and other special guests.
We will be coordinating a few buses from Melbourne and will look to provide local lunch options and potentially some visits to other Central Victorian sites. More information to come. This event will be ticketed.
Training: Business Model Development
How do we decrease the chances of failure of your project? How can we innovate the way we price and deliver the project? How can we have more independent energy projects around the country?
We believe that a starting point is to use a common framework and a common approach to understand, innovate and create business models for community energy projects around the country.
“A Business Model is the rationale of how an organisation creates, delivers and captures value”
This workshop is aimed at creating a common understanding of using the Business Model Canvas – a framework of value creation used all over the world from startups to large organisations – to map your current energy project and understand the success behind the best community energy projects.
This workshop will be run by two of Australia’s leading experts and trainers in the Business Model Canvas – Ben Hamley and Suhit Anantula from Business Model Inc. Business Models Inc is an international strategy design agency which produced the book “Business Model Generation” bringing the business model design process to the world. In Australia, they have worked extensively with social impact organisations and enterprises through the Social Ventures Incubator, School of Social Entrepreneurs, FYA and others.
Ben Hamley
Partner and Strategy Designer, Business Models Inc
Ben is best described as an ‘expert generalist’. He was selected as one of the Foundation for Young Australians ‘Young Social Pioneers’ in 2011 for his work with ‘Smart Artz’ (now ‘Artology’), a youth-led social enterprise founded by entrepreneur and philanthropist, Graeme Wood. He is currently a Board Director of the Brisbane Writers Festival and is a passionate advocate for interdisciplinary skill development and the intersections between culture, technology, design and strategy. Past roles have included manager of Audience Research & Strategy for the Queensland Museum Network, Strategic Advisor at fast-growth digital firm Josephmark.
Suhit Anantula
Partner and Strategy Designer, Business Models Inc
Suhit is an Impact strategist and leads and works at the intersection of entrepreneurship, design and social change. His focus is to solve adaptive social challenges and is a consultant and facilitator for innovation, business models and strategy. Suhit’s experience spans investment banking, social enterprises, tech startups, state government and not-for-profits. He was previously the Director of Business Innovation at The Australian Centre for Social Innovation (TACSI). Suhit has mentored social entrepreneurs through the Social Ventures Incubator, FYA, Victorian Seed Challenge in Victoria, Innovation in Ageing Challenge in Adelaide, Young Social Pioneers in Sydney, 150 Social innovators from China and Australia though the China Australia Millennial Projects. and social enterprises in Uganda.
Training: Introduction to Australia’s Energy System
Have you ever been confused about the difference between a transmission and a distribution company? Does the vast array of acronyms in the energy system, particularly those beginning with A – AEMO, AEMC, AER etc leave you feeling bamboozled? Have you ever found yourself asking what on earth is a reverse auction or contract for difference?
If you answered yes to any of these questions then this is the training for you. Whether you’re new to the energy system or just need a refresher, this 1.5hr crash course by Congress Lead Organiser and energy expert Nicky Ison has got you covered. Get up to speed with the lingo the day before the Congress so you can make the most out of it.
Training: Sunulator
Sunulator was developed by the ATA, and is probably the most capable economic analysis tool for grid-connected solar and solar-battery systems in Australia. It’s freely available for download at: http://www.ata.org.au/ata-research/sunulator.
Outcomes of this training will include:
- Gaining skills and confidence to initiate and progress community solar projects.
- Completing a feasibility analysis for a solar system (with demo data).
- Understanding issues affecting financial attractiveness for both the host site and investors.
- Understanding how to efficiently and effectively assess potential host sites.
- Understanding how to optimise the size of a solar system
You will need to bring a laptop with Sunulator already installed and system permission to run macros. Some basic knowledge of spreadsheets, energy terms (kW vs kWh) and different tariff types is desirable.
Communities changing energy systems around the world
Heather Smith
Heather Smith traveled to USA, Germany, Denmark, UK and Japan to investigate the changes in electricity markets that are being stimulated by community led energy initiatives. You can read more on her blog and access the full report on the Churchill website.
Chris Cooper
Chris Cooper looked at how to scale community energy by meeting entrepreneurs and visionaries in the UK, Germany and the USA. You can read more on his Citizen Power blog and download the full report on the Churchill website.
Events alongside the Congress
Speed Date a Community Energy Expert
As part of the Community Energy Congress, the Alternative Technology Association is happy to present Speed Date a Community Energy Expert. Speed dating will run across the two days of the Congress and will offer free personalised advice from experts on the financial, legal, community engagement, and technical aspects of getting a community energy scheme up and running. Read about the experts and register for your 30-minute, one-on-one ‘date’ below and make the most of the chance to talk to experts in the field and people who’ve done it all before.
Special thanks must go to the sponsors of this event: Flex & the Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals.
Women in Renewables Lunch
The Clean Energy Council is pleased to be partnering with the Community Energy Congress to present their first Women in Renewables luncheon for 2017. Join us to hear from key figures in the renewable energy industry as they discuss the ways we can work together to increase diversity within the energy community.
Leaders in the sector including Candace Vahlsing, Senior Energy and Climate Advisor to Barack Obama, and Alison Rowe, Chief Executive Officer, Moreland Energy Foundation Limited, will discuss how we can work to create widespread community acceptance of the changing landscape as we transform the electricity sector, strategies they’ve seen work, and their own experiences of creating change in their communities.
Finance Toolkit Launch
Join the Finance Toolkit authors, ARENA and many others to launch this key resource for the community energy sector.
Community Energy Expo
Head down to the Swanston Hall to visit the Community Energy Expo. You will find the C4CE table, where community energy groups can share materials and resources, as well as leading government and industry organisations keen to support and partner with community energy groups. Browse the stalls and have a chat with a coffee in one hand and some morning tea in the other. If you have a technical, policy or financial question about energy you’re likely to find the answers at the Community Energy Expo.
Lunch Meetups
Sharing a meal facilitates the sharing of ideas. We’re facilitating a series of informal lunchtime meet-ups to discuss all things community energy at cafes and eateries close to the Melbourne Town Hall on both days of the Congress. For more information head to the Information Desk in the Main Foyer, where a series of meet-up topics and associated locations will be available.
Congress Social Event: ReInvest
ReInvest: empowering everyday Australians to participate in the clean energy revolution.
Join us from 6.30pm on Monday 27 February at Melbourne Town Hall to hear from community and renewable energy leaders on how we all can participate in the transition from an economy powered by fossil fuel to one powered by clean energy.
On the night there’ll be a new renewable energy policy announcement from Victorian Greens Leader, Greg Barber and presentations from community energy experts working on the front line to clean up our energy grid.
You’ll also be the first to discover the boldest plan yet to drive community ownership of large-scale solar farms.
Here’s just a few of the fantastic speakers you’ll hear from at ReInvest:
Greg Barber entered public life in 2002 as the first Green Mayor and has been the Victorian Greens Leader since 2010. A long-time champion of renewable energy, Greg’s insights will let you know what’s next for renewables.
Simon Corbell has spent more than 18 years as an MLA in the ACT. He has been instrumental in setting the policies that will see the ACT powered by 100% renewable energy by 2018, and is now advising the Victorian government on their renewable energy strategy.
Community Energy Leaders will take the stage including Alison Crook AO, Chair of Enova Community Energy, and Jimmy Cocking, Director of the Arid Lands Environment Centre NT and founding member of RePower Alice Springs. Our community leaders have a wealth of experience on taking action towards the transition to renewable energy in their communities.
Jeremy Leggett is a former oil executive turned social entrepreneur. After becoming concerned about climate change in the late 80s, Jeremy’s career took a U turn. He became a campaigner with Greenpeace before founding SolarCentury, the UK’s biggest solar company, and SolarAid, an international charity that combats poverty and climate change.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Find out more about Future Super at myfuturesuper.com.au
C4CE Lunch Meeting
The Coalition for Community Energy as well as putting on the Congress, has now grown to more than 90 organisations. Be part of a lunchtime session to discuss the future of C4CE and how it can grow to be support your organisation and strengthen the emerging community energy sector.
Geli Happy Hour
Looking to debrief the event with fellow attendees? Following the closing plenary, Geli invites you to unwind and enjoy a cold drink. Location to be announced. 5pm – 7pm.
Events the day after the Congress
Masterclass: Opportunities for Local Governments in Community Renewable Energy
There is a growing movement of towns and cities across Australia and around the world taking control of their energy needs. In Australia projects such as the Darebin Solar Savers Program, the Z-Net project and the Lismore Community Solar Farm demonstrate growing interest and activities in community-council collaborations.
This masterclass will outline the:
- Different roles local governments can play to support their citizens to participate in and benefit from renewable energy
- Benefits local governments can derive from collaborating with their communities
- Steps than can be taken to engage your local community in renewable energy deployment.
Local councils interested in community energy will benefit enormously from this masterclass gaining valuable lessons from projects that are already operating. A special focus will be on the Lismore Community Solar Farm model and its engagement, finance and governance structures.
The masterclass will be led by Starfish Initiatives and Community Power Agency.
Lunch and Expert Panel: People Re-powering Australian Cities
Hosted by the Climate Council
The Climate Council in partnership with The Community Energy Congress invites you to hear from Australian community energy experts and not-for-profit leaders whilst enjoying a complimentary lunch.
Over lunch you’ll hear from three panelists about how Australian community groups, local councils and a range of towns and cities can advocate for and lead the switch to clean energy in Australia. There will be plenty of time for discussion and a Q and A session.
The Panel
- Amanda Mckenzie, CEO, Climate Council.
- Alison Rowe, CEO, Moreland Energy Foundation.
- Dan Spencer, Senior Campaigner, Solar Citizens and Repower Port Augusta
Training: Finance Toolkit
Securing funding has been identified as one of the key challenges facing community energy groups. The newly released Funding Toolkit seeks to remove this challenge and also improve the financial literacy of community members.
The training will introduce attendees to the 16 key elements that comprise the framework of the toolkit and then delve into the detail in each of these areas.
The toolkit is also accompanied by a spreadsheet-based Behind-the-Meter financial model template for solar projects and the training will step you through how to apply this tool to your solar project.
This training will be led by Frontier Impact.