Thought leaders, experts, tech folks, environment and climate organisations, government representatives and more gathered in Brisbane on 27 August for the Smart Energy Qld Conference. 

There was a buzz in the room as the discussion of solar, renewables and climate action went up a level in the lead-up to imminent Queensland State Election, next year's Federal Election and a growing sense of urgency to address the impacts of the climate crisis being already felt across the state right now. 

It was fitting the conference was kicked off with this sage reminder from Stephanie Bashir, Next Adivisory CEO  and Smart Energy Council non-executive board member, "Every time we meet we are closer to the emission reduction deadlines of 2025, 2035, 2050".

Opinion Piece by CEO Heidi Lee Douglas. First published in RenewEconomy.

Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has been in regional Queensland this week promoting his nuclear plan, which claims nuclear and solar both have a future in Australia’s energy mix. 

Yeah, nah. 

A new report released this week by the Queensland Conservation Council has revealed building a 1,000 MW nuclear power station in Queensland in 2040 would knock out 3,700 GWh of cheap renewable energy from the grid. 

By Chris Briggs, Research Director, Institute for Sustainable Futures at University of Technology Sydney and Ruby Heard, PhD candidate in energy justice at The University of Melbourne. 

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.

Done well, the renewable energy transition should improve the lives of First Nations Australians. Many are looking for ways to stay on Country, use their knowledge of Country and contribute to industries that align with their values.

Large-scale renewable energy projects and mines for critical minerals are often sited on lands with First Nations legal rights. Access arrangements should provide direct benefits to communities.

By Simon Wright, Senior Research Fellow, Energy & Circularity at Gulbali Institute, Charles Sturt University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. 

Small collections of electricity generators, or “microgrids”, have long been used in disaster recovery, when network supply falters during bushfires or cyclones.

But now the technology is being used to provide secure, 24-7 supplies of clean energy in Australian communities where connection to the main electricity grid is but a pipedream.

By Mark Diesendorf, Honorary Associate Professor at the Environment & Society Group in the School of Humanities & Languages and Faculty of Arts, Design & Architecture at UNSW.

This opinion piece was first published in Pearls and Irritations. Republished with permission of the author.

Nuclear energy proponents are attempting to discredit renewable energy and promote nuclear energy and fossil gas in its place. This article refutes several myths they are disseminating that are receiving little or no challenge in the mainstream media.

On 5 June 2024, Solar Citizens hosted our first multilingual community workshop, and it was a great success. 

This workshop was part of Solar Citizens' Energy Equity Speakers Program, which is aimed at empowering voices from Sydney’s Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities around issues such as renewable energy, electric transport, and the impact of increasing energy bills on cost of living.

A small and enthusiastic group of Wolli Creek residents attended the Voices for Power
energy literacy workshop at St Magdalene’s Chapel in Wolli Creek on Tuesday 22 May.

The event was hosted by Electrify Wolli Creek, in partnership with Solar Citizens, and delivered by Sydney Community Forum, who came together to help community members better understand and read their current energy bill. The community event also provided participants with information on renewable energy solutions, energy efficiency and the benefits of getting off gas.

It's been a long journey and taken several years but on the 16th of May the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) legislation passed Federal Parliament. This legislation will bring more affordable electric vehicles, and more efficient fuel vehicles, into the Australian market from January 1st 2025!

What follows below is a timeline of the journey we've been on to achieve this monumental result. A big thank you to all the staff and solar citizens like you who have contributed along the way.

Community members, civil society and climate groups, and energy experts gathered in Brisbane in April 2024 to discuss Queensland’s energy transition, the key policies of the major parties and plans for community action in the lead-up to the October State election. 

Weren’t able to make it? Watch the Event Recording Video

During the event, Joel Pringle, acting CEO at Solar Citizens, said, “Queensland is both a global and international leader in rooftop solar, with more than 1 million rooftop solar installations.”

Joel outlined that new analysis released on on 14 April, commissioned by Solar Citizens and conducted by the Australian PV Institute at the University of NSW for Solar Citizens, revealed Australian households could save a massive $9.3 billion on energy bills each year by investing in the untapped solar potential of residential rooftops across the nation.

April 2024 was a historic time in the Queensland Parliament.

Solar Citizens’ supporters like you have been campaigning alongside allied organisations for the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan to include firm commitments on emissions reductions and strong renewable energy targets for more than a decade.

The Queensland Government this month passed landmark laws guaranteeing 80% renewable energy generation by 2035, and powerful emissions reductions targets of 75% reduction by 2035. 

This commitment locks in the work of Solar Citizens supporters over the last 10 years demanding cleaner, more affordable energy for all. Queensland has come so far in just the last few years, from a renewable energy laggard to world leaders in rooftop solar uptake – this legislation will ensure availability of even more cheap, clean energy from the sun for years to come.