Community energy representatives from across Australia will be on the Central Coast on Friday, March 8, as part of the national Community Energy Congress hosted by the Coalition for Community Energy (C4CE).
The congress will see attendees share stories on how community energy projects play a critical role in accelerating the shift to renewable energy.
Representatives will meet for two days in Sydney before travelling to the Coast by electric bus to attend a Connections Day involving a mix of Narara Ecovillage tours and presentations.
Aside from learning about all the ground-breaking renewable energy initiatives at Narara, the day will include conversations covering solar, electric transport, energy efficiency and electrification in our communities and homes, and innovative new technologies.
Dr Saul Griffith, a former climate adviser to US President Joe Biden, will keynote the congress event in Sydney.
C4CE Chair Heather Smith said the group would like to see consistent support from governments to grow the energy transition.
“Homes, businesses and whole communities won’t transition to renewable energy without trusted, independent and custom advice and help,” she said.
Tickets to the congress are still available, or you can attend online.
Go to https://c4ce.net.au/congress/get-tickets/
The Community Energy Congress is part of a groundswell of local activity to empower communities and reduce carbon emissions.
Last year, 55 community energy groups raised $74.5M for energy infrastructure, with another $6M in value from in-kind support and volunteer hours.
Killcare resident Jeremy Cox is the Energy Congress facilitator and the Secretary and Public Officer for Electrify Bouddi, a local community energy project.
“Our experience with Electrify Bouddi has been uplifting,” he said.
“Since we put this idea out there, more than 130 community members have signed up – and they all bring a great diversity of deep skills, experience and a range of ideas.
“We are early in this experience but the connections with each other and other communities are creating all sorts of possibilities for delivering home energy efficiency more quickly – and stopping our homes polluting with carbon emissions – and we all save on energy bills.”
Electrify Bouddi has connected with multiple other local Central Coast Community Energy projects including Peninsula Environment Group, Umina Community Group, Community Powershare and Patonga Progress Association, to share insights and information.
This has resulted, among other things, in a pilot study called Central Coast SolarShare in which households with solar panels sell their surplus solar electricity to households without solar.
“We want to see if community energy trading can be a valuable tool for the energy transition,” Cox said.
“The results of the study will be shared with policy makers and other communities.
“We’re grateful to join forces with Enosi and Energy Locals for this pilot.
“In this next decade, in rapid time, our homes and communities will generate large amounts of electricity and this presents new technical and economic opportunities.
“This pilot will help us learn more about what these opportunities might be and how the whole community can benefit.
“We’re also thankful to our state and national MPs for getting right behind our community energy projects.
“We are sharing our insights directly to inform policies and regulations, so this energy transformation is smooth and generates really positive outcomes for homes and communities.”
For more information, and to be part of the pilot, visit: https://centralcoastsolarshare.wordpress.com
I love solar and batteries etc I have a small off grid system myself but what the travelling electrified bus load of renewable warriors wont tell you is the long payback time on this technology. My small 5kw hr battery and 1.6kw solar panel system will pay for itself in 10 years minimum .The system will need replacing by then.