AUSTRALIA AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

Has Australia missed the renewable energy boat? The answer appears to be a resounding YES, and the irony is that much of the technology currently providing major employment opportunities worldwide was actually developed here in Australia. While renewable energy entrepreneurs have thrived overseas, successive Australia governments have remained wedded to coal, cutting support for alternative clean energy projects, and spending hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars on carbon capture and storage technologies which, if implemented, will double the cost of coal-fired electricity.

The story of Australian expat, Danny Kennedy, is a typical example. Attracted by the progressive stance on renewable energy by California's Governor Schwarzenegger, he moved to San Francisco in 2008 to start the rooftop solar company, Sungevity. With some 1,000 employees that company is now one of America's biggest, and part of one of the USA's fastest-growing industries which employs some 55,000 people in California alone.

California has already shut down almost all its coal-fired plants and set a deadline of 2027 to stop importing coal-fired electricity. This is happening elsewhere with progressive countries like Germany and the Netherlands opting out of coal. India, the country on which Australia has seemingly pinned the future of our coal industry, has announced that solar and wind are their first commitment, and vowed to cut coal-fired electricity production.

More bad news for fossil fuel companies is that, according to CSIRO chief economist for energy Paul Graham, costs of solar panels now, 2015, are 20% cheaper than was predicted half a decade ago; and according to the Energy Networks Association, John Bradley, will continue to fall, along with the cost of storage. In fact, Mr Bradley believes the new technologies are changing so quickly that within the next 10 years electricity storage costs will fall by two-thirds, and solar costs continue to fall by another third again.

Is there any wonder therefore that, in the 10 weeks running up to the Paris climate summit, more than 100 institutions controlling $US800 billion in funds worldwide, opted to make new divestments of at least some of their fossil fuel assets.

            - John Edwards

This post was initially published in the VOICES FOR THE EARTH column in The Daily Examiner on 7 December, 2015.

ENOVA: NEW NORTHERN RIVERS ELECTRICITY RETAILER

Enova Renewable Community Energy, Australia’s first community-owned renewable energy retailer, was launched recently.

Enova plans to offer a wide range of services, including “best available energy offers” to the Northern Rivers community from the Clarence Valley to the Queensland border.

Enova has stated that its vision is to progressively:

• reduce our carbon footprint
• produce locally the energy that we consume
• accelerate the move to a more energy efficient system, implementing new technologies as they become available
• provide benefit to all socio-economic groups
• deliver excellent customer service
• create employment in the community

Representatives from Enova have been holding meetings throughout the region in the leadup to the launch of the company.  In the Clarence they addressed the Clarence Valley Council’s Climate Change Community Advisory Committee earlier in the year and several months later a U3A Jabberfest (the Grafton U3A’s monthly meeting) in Grafton. 

Following the release of the prospectus the group has been holding information meetings throughout the Northern Rivers region.

For further information  - Enova website

COMMUNITY ENERGY CONGRESS, CANBERRA JUNE 2014

The Community Energy Congress held in Canberra on June 16-17 brought together about 350 people from around Australia – from Mareeba in North Queensland to Perth in Western Australia.  Many of those attending had experience with community energy projects while others were anxious to learn how to advance them in their own areas.

Community energy projects take many forms.  Many involve energy generation from sources such as wind, the sun or biomass.  Some involve other tools such as energy efficiency, energy storage or demand management.  Some community projects involve connection to the grid while others are stand-alone.

"Community energy projects are collaborately-spirited, as well as being commercially-driven and environmentally beneficial.  They contribute to a bigger picture of regional development, action on climate change and progress towards sustainability, community empowerment and energy advocacy."  (p. 4, Community Energy Congress Program)

One of the most inspiring addresses at the congress was given by Arno Zengle, Mayor of the German village of Wildpoldsried, who spoke about his village's renewable energy achievements

This Bavarian village, with a population of around 2500 people, is situated 100 km from Munich.  It produces more than four times its energy requirements through a mix of renewable technologies.  The excess electricity is fed into the grid, providing the village with an income of around 5 million euros a year.

The move to renewables started in the late 1990s when the mayor and council engaged in consultation with the local community about what was possible for the village in the next 20 years.

Photo-voltaics are a major contributor to Wildpoldsried's  power generation.  Solar panels have been installed on public buildings and on around 250 private residences.  Another important source is wind.  The seven wind turbines were financed by local citizens and there are plans for several more.

Other power sources are biogas digesters and three small hydro systems.

In addition the village has embraced energy efficiency with incentives provided to residents who incorporate passive solar design in their houses.

Examples like Wildpoldsried will inspire many of those who attended the congress to move forward with their plans to promote community energy.

            - Leonie Blain

This article was published in the "Voices for the Earth" column in The Daily Examiner on June 23, 2014.

 More information about the congress and the organisers is available on the Coalition for Community Energy website