While suspicion and resistance to big renewable developments is growing in some regional areas, local community energy projects around the country not only provide additional renewable energy to the grid, they enable communities to feel involved and directly benefit from the renewable energy transition. Whereas large scale renewable projects are invariably focused on industry needs, community projects are more likely to win hearts and minds for the energy transition because they focus on the needs of the community first and foremost and are usually run by passionate, committed volunteers with less vested interests. Dr Jarra Hicks, the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Community Power Agency, discusses the role of community energy in the energy transition, how Local Energy Hubs can help people move from being confused bystanders to active participants in, and beneficiaries of, the transition, and the barriers that currently impede the sector. 

For more information about electrification and energy efficiencyhttps://switchedon.reneweconomy.com.au

Community focused energy projects more likely to win hearts and minds for the energy transition

Seismic changes in the solar and storage industry? Who would have thought that our friends in New Jersey would relate so viscerally? Their recent 4.8 magnitude quake in early April literally extended this metaphor across the country.

Metaphors aside, the solar and storage industry is changing faster now than I have ever seen:

* Electric rates are soaring, along with utility profits
* Solar equipment costs — panels, inverters, batteries — are declining
* UL-3741 standards for rapid shutdown throw a monkey wrench into rooftop safety standards
* Demand for electricity to power our EVs and heat pumps is increasing
* AI is recently on the scene as the newest electricity demand wildcard
* Continued high interest rates are suppressing solar and storage financing
* Utilities have wised-up to rooftop solar and storage threats to their profits
* Hostile utility policies and relatively high interest rates squeeze installer margins, forcing many unprofitable solar companies out of business
* Some companies have cracked the code for long-time success — how do they do it?

For cross country insights into the impact of these changes, our guest on this week’s podcast is Scott Sullivan. I’ve known Scott for over 20 years. Not only is he the best networked person in the industry, but his depth of solar sales and marketing knowledge is a treasure for people trying to figure out what’s next.

Scott and I had so many topics we decided to split the podcast into two episodes. So please listen to Part One of Scott’s podcast for his observations and advice for these metaphorical seismic changes in the solar industry.

The Energy Show

Seismic Changes in the Solar & Storage Industry

China is the dominant force in solar, wind, battery storage and EVs, and the world’s biggest polluter. China expert Lauri Myllyvirta lifts the lid. Plus: Labor’s Made in Australia plan, and lots of storage news.

China, China, China

The federal government recognises electrification and energy efficiency can save householders money, make our houses more comfortable to live in, and reduce emissions. But some energy experts say their National Energy Performance Strategy (NEPS) lacks the details on regulatory reform, financial support, and urgency, that can make it happen. They want less planning, and more doing. Senator Jennifer McAllister, the Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy, discusses the NEPS and what the government has identified as ways to help householders and businesses overcome the hurdles of the energy transition, and current cost of living.

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

Labor’s strategy to reduce energy bills and emissions – too much planning, not enough doing?

Welcome back to Part 2 of our interview with Scott Sullivan, my friend and one of the best networked executives in the industry. Earthquake excitement has diminished in the New Jersey area, but seismic changes in solar continue around the country. 

In Part 1 we discussed what happens in the solar and storage industry — really every industry — when company profits decline. It’s a tough adjustment to make, and many companies have not yet recovered from this high interest rate environment.


Nevertheless, the majority of companies have figured out the formula, and the topics that Scott and I discussed are summarized below:

* What are the characteristics of a great solar and storage contractor?
 * What should potential customers look for in a contractor?
 * Have you seen any changes with the solar panels offered by contractors?
 * Have you seen any changes with the inverters and batteries offered by contractors?
 * Is solar financing recovering yet from high interest rates?
 * Are Virtual Power Plants (VPP) and Vehicle To Grid (V2G) technologies getting much traction?
 * And last but not least, what do you do for fun?

If you missed any of Part 1 or Part 2 of our podcasts with Scott Sullivan, please visit ENERGYSHOW.BIZ and listen to the full podcasts.

Seismic Changes in the Solar and Storage Industry - Part 2

Australia falls out of global top 10 solar countries. Plus: GridBeyond's Michael Phelan on the rise of VPPs; and battery rebates.

Australia loses it on solar

Bridget McIntosh from EnergyLab on South-east Asia's energy transition and the role being played by Australian experts. Plus: Battery storage gets really big.

The renewable challenge in south-east Asia

A recent report from Rewiring Aotearoa has shown the rising cost of petrol and gas in New Zealand now means electric homes and EVs are more affordable than fossil fuel alternatives. Even accounting for higher upfront costs, and the interest you pay if you need to borrow to buy these appliances, the report shows a combination of EVs and electric appliances are cheaper over the lifetime of the machines. The average home that uses gas and petrol vehicles could save around NZ$1500 per year at current interest rates (around AUD$1400). Even more – NZ$4,500 - if they get a low interest loan and get their electricity from a combination of rooftop solar, a home battery, and the existing electricity grid. Mike Casey, the Chief Executive of Rewiring Aotearoa, discusses their Electric Homes report, and how he fully electrified his own cherry farm.

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

NZ is one of the first countries to reach an electrification tipping point

It’s not a flippant comment or a classic jazz solo — but an existential question about the devastating trend our civilization is on due to climate change.

The history of Earth Day shows how the worldwide environmental movement has evolved from concerns about in-your-face air and water pollution … to a focus on the invisible hazard of rising CO2 emissions.

To a large degree we’ve cleaned up the worst of the visible air pollution, contaminated water, and toxic wastes hiding under a few feet of topsoil. In the first few decades of Earth Day, consumers, companies and governments were all pulling in the same direction to right these environmental wrongs.

But something insidious happened due to the profits that can be reaped by polluting the Earth. Economists call it a Negative Externality (the imposition of a cost to one group of people as an indirect effect of the actions of another group of people). To fossil fuel companies, the negative externality they cause by producing oil and gas — which when burned pollutes the Earth with CO2 — is just a side effect to their record profits. For decades fossil fuel companies have been fighting and concealing this unprofitable truth.

There is hope amidst this grim reality. The history of Earth Day shows how public opinion can indeed change this trajectory — especially as the effects of CO2 pollution impact all of us with flooded shores, burning homes and unlivable cities. For insights into our progress amidst this grim reality, please Listen Up to this week’s Energy Show.

Earth Day … So What?

Energy minister Chris Bowen discusses the capacity investment scheme, the Eraring closure, social licence, planning approvals, long duration storage, and why the Coalition’s nuclear plan does not stack up.

Chris Bowen explains the green energy plan

Australians are installing an estimated 940,000 new gas appliances and 800,000 new resistive electric appliances -panel heaters, oil heaters and older style electric hot water systems - every year, which are locking in significant long-term costs for heating and cooking. The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis(IEEFA) found these inefficient appliances will force Australians to rack up $3.4billion in unnecessary energy costs because, whilst they may be cheaper to buy, they are more expensive to run. The problem is Australia has no minimum energy standards for space heaters, water heaters or cooktops which would enable consumers to make informed decisions about these important home appliances. Jay Gordon, IEEFA’s Energy Finance Analyst, says the government could fix the problem with a single intervention.

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

Australians need new energy standards to make informed decisions about our home appliances

Join Anne Delaney as she tracks the electrification of everything with people at the forefront of the electrification transition.

Community focused energy projects more likely to win hearts and minds for the energy transition

SwitchedOn Australia

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