Clean Energy Week in Sydney this month

Being held in Sydney from Tuesday 22 July to Friday 25 July, Clean Energy Week will look at a few different alternative futures for the clean energy sector and confront the many opportunities and challenges faced by the industry. Attendees will gain insight from politicians, CEOs and analysts on the Renewable Energy Target Review, potential changes to the scheme and what they would mean for the industry.

Minister for the Environment, the Hon Greg Hunt MP will present the opening address at the GE Australia Clean Energy Week Gala Dinner on 22 July. Minister Hunt will provide an overview of the current state of clean energy policy in Australia, including an update on the review of the Renewable Energy Target (RET). He will also outline the Direct Action plan and the role it might play in supporting clean energy into the future.

The Hon Bob Baldwin MP, the Hon Mark Butler MP and the Hon Rob Stokes MP will speak at the opening plenary session of Clean Energy Week’s Policy and Finance Conference. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry Bob Baldwin will talk about the anti-dumping investigation of Chinese solar panels. Shadow Environment, Climate Change and Water Minister Mark Butler is the key figure determining the federal opposition’s position on the RET. Newly appointed NSW Environment Minister Rob Stokes will talk about the opportunities for the industry in his home state.

Market outlook from captains of industry

On 22 July, the Policy and Finance Conference will bring together an impressive panel of domestic and international heads of industry to discuss the big issues facing clean energy. Key political, commercial and technical issues for the year ahead will be discussed by the ‘Captains of Industry' panel which includes:

• Christine Lins, Executive Secretary of REN21
• Miles George, Managing Director of Infigen Energy
• Simon Corbell MLA, ACT Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development
• Innes Willox, Chief Executive of the Australian Industry Group
• Anita Roper, Non-Executive Director of Pacific Hydro

Evolution of clean energy projects

Clean Energy Week will also take a look at the latest developments and future outlook for the clean energy market, including how changes in the energy market will affect the size and shape of clean energy projects. ‘The Evolution of Clean Energy Projects’ session on 22 July is being led by Dr Bryan Hannegan, the Associate Director for Energy Systems Integration at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, who leads the US Department of Energy’s national laboratory for energy efficiency and renewable energy research and development.

For more sessions and speakers, visit www.cleanenergyweek.com.au. Online registration ends on 18 July.