Taking place from Wednesday 25–Friday 27 July at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Clean Energy Week 2012 has played host to key political and industry leaders including:

  • Climate Change Authority Chief Executive Anthea Harris
  • Shadow Energy and Resources Minister Ian Macfarlane
  • Clean Energy Finance Corporation Chair Jillian Broadbent.

Today, conference participants heard from Australian Greens Leader Federal Senator Christine Milne and Sungevity President Danny Kennedy, who congratulated the Australian solar industry on the exponential growth it has made over the last five years.

“If there was a gold medal out there for residential solar – you won!” said Mr Kennedy. “You’re truly pioneers in what I call the rooftop revolution.”

Mr Kennedy recommended the process of solar leasing, such as in the United States where 75 per cent of the residential market is leased or under power purchase agreements, as a process that democratises solar.

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A focus on the Renewable Energy Target
Mr Combet told Clean Energy Week: “The global clean energy economy is an opportunity; a necessity; an integral part of our continued prosperity.

“If we do not take action and decarbonise the economy, we be unable to compete against modern manufacturing industries powered by clean energy.”

Mr Combet said that the Renewable Energy Target (RET), a main theme of the conference, complements the carbon price by driving additional large and small-scale renewable energy deployment – and that it is part of a holistic and comprehensive set of measures that should not be attacked.

Mr Green echoed this statement, highlighting that energy prices will be higher and investment will be lost without continued binding targets, policy stability and bipartisan support for clean energy.

In her presentation to the conference, Ms Harris outlined the Climate Change Authority’s upcoming work program and the scope of its RET review, noting that it won’t be making recommendations about transmission connections, or state planning laws.

Ms Harris said that prior to the Authority releasing its final report on the RET, an issues paper would be created based on submissions due by 14 September, with a discussion paper and stakeholder consultation to follow in October before the end of the process on 31 December 2012.