ACT Renewables Showcase 2019
Friday 26 July 2019
9:00 am – 5:30 pm

Written by Alethia Barceinas of Entry29

2018 was a ground-breaking year for Australian clean energy and we need to pledge to keep it up in 2019. Last year we achieved the highest level of electricity generation from renewable sources and investment went through the roof, with 100% increase in large-scale energy projects from $10 billion in 2017 to $20 billion in 2018 and 14.5 gigawatts of energy generation committed.

This rise does not only have implications in quantity but also in quality, with wind and solar projects being built more efficiently than ever before. Updates from December 2018, confirmed that one in five Australian households were powered with solar panels and that renewables are the cheapest new build power. This is great news according to the Clean Energy Regulator (CER), who confirmed that the Renewable Energy Target of 33,000 gigawatt hours by 2020 is on track to be met.

Furthermore, analysis suggests that Australia will reach 50% renewables by 2030 (with or without government intervention). This year we have already witnessed great examples of private initiatives; a few weeks ago, the first unsubsidised big battery was installed in South Australia representing a major milestone for the clean energy sector, especially after the success of other large-scale battery systems co-located with wind farms in the state. On that subject, we cannot leave out the innovative project of SolarShare, launched early this year, where Canberrans invested to own a community solar farm that is now fully funded.

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has endorsed 24 innovative projects with over $40 million dollars so far this year. It is worth mentioning that one of those projects is a local innovation from our friends at ZepBen. And speaking of locals, Climate Change Minister Shane Rattenbury declared that we will not have to wait till 2020 to reach the milestone for Canberra to be effectively powered by renewable energy because we will see that happening in October this year.

As we can see, the commitment is strong and it is not exclusive to either private or public support. 2018 was a great year for the renewables and 2019 seems to bring good news too, but if we want to stay in the momentum, it is up to each one of us to participate and rise up to the challenge.

Join us for the ACT Renewables Showcase 2019 on the 26^th of July and learn more about the most innovative projects of the renewables industry in the ACT and in Australia.

To know more about local initiatives, innovative projects in renewables, funding and more, connect with the Renewables Innovation Hub.