Record-breaking attendance at energy conference

All-Energy Australia 2018 attracted over 8500 visitors and 200+ speakers, and featured the largest exhibition to date, expanding by 40% to accommodate more than 250 exhibitors.

Held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, the event’s exhibition floor showcased industry heavyweights, including several market leaders and start-up companies who are set to transform the local energy sector in the coming years.

Clean Energy Council (CEC) Chief Executive Kane Thornton noted the key trends that emerged from the event were: investments in large-scale renewable energy, wind, solar and other technologies; the importance of quality, reliability, safety and efficiency of systems in homes and businesses; and the shift towards battery technology.

Victoria’s Energy, Environment and Climate Change Minister, Lily D’Ambrosio MP, used the event to announce the launch of the Battery Assurance Program and funding for an EV charging and microgrid project. The Battery Assurance Program is a quality assurance program developed by the CEC to provide consumers with information about the safety of residential battery products and best practice guidelines.

“Simply put, products that qualify for the Clean Energy Council’s Battery Assurance Program meet the standard we should all expect for a major appliance we are installing in our homes. The products have been independently tested to confirm they are up to the necessary electrical safety and quality standards,” Thornton said.

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. More than $200,000 in funding was also announced 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, 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 renewable energy sources.

“For the first time we are seeing prices for renewable energy at or below the price of coal and gas generation. This means that the shift to renewables is not just a climate imperative, but crucially it is also an economic one,” said Miller. “The next decade is all about the consumer and not just the early adopters and evangelists like ourselves but mainstream Australia.”

According to Exhibition Director Robby Clark, the two-day event was a huge success. “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. 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.”

Reed Exhibitions Australia 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/dianabahrin1