SwitchedOn Australia

A new campaign urging the federal government to invest in local energy hubs in regional areas has kicked off. It follows the release of a recent report by the Regional Australia Institute that suggests Australia’s net zero targets are under threat unless regional communities are given a seat at the table to help drive the renewable energy change. Sally Hunter is a farmer from Gomeroy country, near Narrabri, in north west New South Wales. Her family farm is one of the first in the region to go all-electric. She’s also the founder and managing director of Genie Energy, a not for profit that provides information about renewable energy to the Narrabri community. Genie Energy is seen as a template for local energy hubs.

For more information about electrification and energy efficiency https://onestepoffthegrid.com.au

Zero Emissions Noosa (ZEN) – a community energy group in Queensland – is currently working with the Noosa Council to install a community battery in the Noosa region. They’re the only non-industry group in Queensland to receive a federal grant for a community battery. ZEN has published a recent report that acknowledges community batteries aren’t yet financially viable without government grants, but they argue community batteries are still necessary for the energy transition. Vivienne Griffin is one of the report’s authors and co-convener of ZEN’s community batteries initiative.

For more on electrification and energy efficiency https://onestepoffthegrid.com.au

Household hot water systems account for a quarter of a household’s power load. Finding ways to save on the cost of producing hot water, and reduce emissions, has been the focus of much recent research. But it’s not just what we heat our water with, but when. Energy experts argue we should shift our hot water heating to the middle of the day when there is abundant solar going into the system. Not only will this reduce our emissions, it could save billions of dollars. Recent research shows there is a $6.7 billion missed opportunity if newly electrified hot water systems aren’t used as a flexible resource. Dr Gabrielle Kuiper is a specialist in distributed energy resources, and a guest contributor to IEEFA, the Institute for energy economics and financial analysis, who argues we have to get smarter about hot water.

For more information about electrification and energy efficiency https://onestepoffthegrid.com.au

22 years ago the Solar Schools initiative was founded to help schools better monitor and manage their energy use, and also educate kids about energy. The program has been ‘incredibly successful’ at helping students and schools take charge of the energy they use. In 2023 the 600 schools they work with reduced 45,000 tons of CO2 and saved taxpayers about $7.8 million. But with increasing amounts of technology now being used in Australian schools, our schools are consuming energy at an ever-increasing rate. Rob Bruer, the co-founder and CEO of Solar Schools, outlines a case for installing solar and batteries in every school in the country, making it core to the energy mix in the country, and making energy literacy core to the school curricula.

For more information about electrification and energy efficiency https://onestepoffthegrid.com.au

Deputy Chair of Zero Emissions Noosa, Mark Purcell, is on a mission to get 50,000 households to electrify and install batteries. He's electrified three homes, and now wants to spread the word to other householders about electrification and decarbonisation. He’s calculated that if he can get 50,000 households to electrify and install batteries one less gas peaker plant will be needed during critical hours of peak demand. But although he's fully committed to household electrification and decarbonisation, Mark didn’t start his own electrification journey for sustainability reasons.

For more information on electrification and energy efficiency https://onestepoffthegrid.com.au

Electrifying and decarbonising our homes isn’t always straightforward – we might not know where to start, what to prioritise, who to trust, what products to install, how much it will all cost, what rebates and incentives are available, can I get finance, what’s the best energy retailer that won’t rip me off. And despite the financial incentives that are now available for households and businesses the uptake on rebates remains low. The process can be a minefield, and many people end up thinking, why bother. A new website is now trying to take some of the pain out of the process. The founder of Upgrade IQ, Leigh Simpson, discusses how the site links customers with tradies and installers who they’ve already vetted, who can provide tailored information on government incentives, and design solutions for individual households, along with financing options.

For more information about electrification and energy efficiency https://onestepoffthegrid.com.au

Energy Efficiency Council's Jeremy Sung discusses energy standards for lighting and heat pumps and the federal government's Consumer Energy Resources Roadmap.

For more information on electrification and energy efficiency https://onestepoffthegrid.com.au

In last year’s federal budget the Government allocated $1 billion to a Household Energy Upgrades program to help homeowners fast track their transition to cleaner, cheaper energy. Grace Tam is the Head of Consumer finance at the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, the CEFC, the agency responsible for rolling out the program. She discusses the importance of green finance for householders, and how difficult it was to get Australia’s banks, mutuals, and other lenders to offer truly green finance that can turbo charge household decarbonisation and electrification. Also, why lenders should provide access to service providers and information, not just ‘green discounts’.

For more information on electrification and energy efficiency https://onestepoffthegrid.com.au

Brendan Lang runs an electrification business in Melbourne that helps householders and businesses transition from gas-fuelled appliances to efficient electric ones. He’s a passionate environmentalist who has swapped his Amarok ute for a Tesla model Y. Brendan discusses why he opted for a Tesla, and provides some practical advice on the best forms of heating, when you need 3 phase power or should rewire your house, how to find a good electrician, and why peer to peer training for electricians is so important.

For more information on electrification and energy efficiency https://onestepoffthegrid.com.au

In the absence of bipartisan support for solutions to the climate crisis, local community groups and individuals are taking it upon themselves to help drive the transition to a clean energy economy. ClearSky Solar is just one community initiative that is helping businesses divest from fossil fuels by supporting investments in clean energy and sustainable projects. They do this by linking community investors to local solar projects that need financing. Clearsky has helped finance solar installations on car washes, breweries, retail outlets, hotels, utilities companies, supermarkets, and bakeries. In just ten years they have raised $26 million, installed 95 solar projects, and generated 20 mega watts of rooftop solar energy. Dr Christina Kirsch is a director at ClearSky Solar.

For more information on electrification and energy efficiency https://onestepoffthegrid.com.au