Record-breaking attendance at All-Energy Australia 2018

More than 8500 visitors attended this year’s All-Energy Australia Exhibition and Conference, held last week at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, exploring the latest in government policies, renewables and clean energy technology.

This year’s exhibition was the largest to date, expanding by 40% to accommodate more than 250 exhibitors. Industry heavyweights were on show across the event’s exhibition floor, including several market leaders and start-up companies who are set to transform the local energy sector in the coming years.

More than 200 experts also delivered a mix of panel discussions, workshops and presentations to packed theatres, providing a window into Australia’s evolving energy landscape and new market realities for Australia’s energy system.

The event was officially opened by Victoria’s Energy, Environment and Climate Change Minister, Lily D’Ambrosio. The Minister used the event to announce the launch of the Battery Assurance Program, an initiative developed by the Clean Energy Council to provide consumers with information about the safety of residential battery products and best practice guidelines.

D’Ambrosio also announced $1 million in funding for Australian company Chargefox to develop the country’s first ultrarapid vehicle charging stations in regional Victoria. The charging stations will reduce charging time for drivers (with up to 400 km delivered in 15 minutes) and is the fastest of any charger currently available in Australia.

The Minister also announced more than $200,000 in funding for a new microgrid project in regional Victoria that will include solar PV and battery storage, and is set to lower energy costs and improve energy reliability for farmers in Victoria.

The keynote address, by ARENA CEO Darren Miller, meanwhile discussed the importance of wind and solar energy and announced future innovations by the organisation to manage Australia’s renewable energy programs and increase the supply and competitiveness of our renewable energy sources.

“For the first time we are seeing prices for renewable energy at or below the price of coal and gas generation,” Miller said. “This means that the shift to renewables is not just a climate imperative, but crucially it is also an economic one.

“The next decade is all about the consumer and not just the early adopters and evangelists like ourselves but mainstream Australia.”

Exhibition Director Robby Clark said the event was a big success, with each conference theatre drawing packed crowds across the two days.

“The record number of attendees is a testament to the true value of the event and its growing demand and importance to those involved in the energy sector,” said Clark. “This year’s event provided a platform for many key domestic and international decision-makers in energy to share their insights and help shape the future of the sector in Australia.”

The event organiser has also announced the launch of Energy Efficiency Expo, a new trade exhibition and conference addressing energy productivity and affordability, in partnership with the Energy Efficiency Council. From 2019, Energy Efficiency Expo will be held annually in October at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre alongside All-Energy Australia and Waste Expo Australia, forming a national showcase of renewable energy, energy efficiency and sustainable solutions.

All-Energy Australia, along with Waste Expo and Energy Efficiency Expo, will return to Melbourne from 23–24 October 2019. For more information, visit www.all-energy.com.au.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Dmitriy Danilenko