Energy, emissions and Clover Moore at Renewable Cities 2019

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore will headline at this year’s Renewable Cities Australia Conference and Exhibition, (RCA) opening the Renewable Cities Forum on Day 2 and detailing progress on the Sustainable Sydney 2030 initiative.

Held on 13–14 June at the International Convention Centre in Sydney, the free-to-attend event will showcase strategies to help organisations cost-effectively move towards net-zero energy, as well as explore developments in zero-emission transport.

Day 1: Zero Emission Transport Conference

Specialist speakers will cover topics such as Australia’s transition to zero-emission vehicles, commercial transport, fleets, recharging and refuelling. Highlights include:

Richard Day (Director – Low Carbon Economy Unit, SA Department of the Premier and Cabinet) will discuss how EVs can support SA’s energy transition to clean energy, exploring how battery EV and fuel-cell EV can help ensure an affordable, reliable, secure and clean electricity system.

Sarah Paparo (Head of Policy and Regulation, Marchment Hill Consulting) will present ‘Zero emission vehicles: the transition of the nation’, discussing lessons from the energy sector for smart EV incentive policy.

Colin Gillam (Australian Regional Manager, redT energy) will explore how the transition to EV can be a win for all. A combination of potentially bidirectionally capable electric buses, locally installed solar and robust heavy cycling storage can reduce the commercial transition costs and importantly, offer network support for peak and emergency events, but without needing any network augmentation.

Day 2: Renewable Cities Forum

This forum will investigate how businesses and government can move towards net-zero energy, using certain cities’ progress on renewable targets as helpful case studies and benchmarks. Specific focus areas encompass corporate power purchase agreements, navigating the right model, legal processes and negotiating.

Speakers include:

Clover Moore will open RCA and will discuss Sydney’s strategies for net-zero energy. Moore will detail the implementation of Sustainable Sydney 2030, which strives to secure Sydney’s future as a leading green and creative city.

Rob McCartney (Woolworths’ Director of Format Development) will speak about the company’s journey, challenges and what’s next in industry learning. Rob is responsible for the group’s energy portfolio, driving deployment of sustainable technology solutions and delivering environmental commitments in all new and renewed stores.

Adam Clarke (Program Coordinator, Strategy and Engagement, City of Newcastle) will present on Newcastle’s renewable energy projects. Adam is part of the team delivering renewable energy, smart city and sustainability projects for Newcastle.

Kate Noble (Senior Sustainability Officer, Low Carbon Future Team, City of Melbourne) will detail Melbourne’s new strategic plan of 1.5°C and the Melbourne Renewable Energy Project 2. Kate led the delivery of the City of Melbourne’s climate change mitigation strategy as part of the C40 pilot program for cities to align their efforts to the Paris Climate Change Agreement.

Jackie McKeon (Project Director, BRC-A; Renewable Technologies Manager, WWF) is part of two panel sessions. In the first, ‘Deep Dive into PPAs’, she will present on the recently launched Business Renewables Centre Australia, an independent, not-for-profit initiative helping companies to procure large-scale offsite renewable energy. Jackie will later chair ‘Negotiating the Deal’, which includes case studies and success stories on creating successful energy partnerships.

Covering highly useful insights and the very latest information, RCA 2019 is specifically designed for professionals in both the commercial and government sectors who need to know how to improve energy efficiency and reduce costs and discover the best way to move their organisation towards net zero.

The RCA Forum will be co-located with the Australian Energy Storage Conference and Exhibition (AES). RCA attendees will also gain access to the AES exhibition.

What: Renewable Cities Australia 2019

When: 13–14 June 2019

Where: International Convention Centre, Sydney

Web: www.renewablecities.com.au

Image courtesy of Renewable Cities Australia.