Renewable energy ramps up

The 2014 North Coast Energy Forum, held at Cabarita on the Tweed Coast last week, attracted 120 participants from industry, government and the community.

The forum follows last week’s coverage of the country's first community-owned power retailer, which is on track to be buying, selling and investing in renewable energy in the Northern Rivers region by January 2016.

Issues such as how to create a social licence for the burgeoning bioenergy industry in the region were put under the spotlight at the event.

Forum convenor Mark Byrne said: "We are starting to see some real practical outcomes in the move towards a more sustainable energy system in this region. And it’s not just down to being the region with the second highest uptake of rooftop solar in Australia.

"One of our masterclass presenters, Fiona Waterhouse from Utilitas, offered to provide up to one million dollars of funding to help the establishment of five bioenergy projects in the region, creating electricity from the methane produced by food processing and agricultural wastes.

"There was a great deal of interest in the plan for the Northern Rivers to become the home to Australia’s first community owned, 100 per cent renewable electricity retailer."

And after hearing the pitches from local energy groups, Brisbane-based Elevare Energy offered to fund the setting up of a community solar farm, using the forum group to facilitate that process.

"And finally, there was lots of interest in the electric vehicle expo we held alongside the main forum. As a result, we want to find ways to roll out a network of EV fast charging stations from Ballina to the Sunshine Coast," Mr Byrne said.

People interested in being part of any of these projects are encouraged to connect with the forum’s ongoing work via its website, www.ncef.net.au or on social media at www.facebook.com/NorthCoastEnergyForum.