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Renewable Energy Benalla's John Lloyd attended the Hume Region Renewable Energy Forum on June 13th with Larissa Montgomery. John recommended this video produced on the day which portrays the beginning of a positive and inclusive conversation about how renewable energy rolls out in Hume region.
Following the cancellation of the Tuesday 24 July Session 3 Workshop the remaining schedule is as follows;
Session 3 will now be on Tuesday 21 August at 7.00pm-9.00pm and will provide additional information on Lighting, Draft Proofing and Insulation as we realise that these topics were not dealt with in sufficient detail at the last session. Session 4 will be on Wednesday September 26 from 7.00pm-9.00pm and will provide information on Windows, Hot Water and Heating & Cooling. The remaining topics, Appliances and Cooking, Energy Monitoring & Control and Solar Power, may be dealt with in a 5th session either later this year or early in 2019. Download the workshop flyer. RSVP Sunday before session, Phone/SMS Peter on 0418 135 330 Email, peter_maddock@iprimus.com.au. Or submit details via our Contact Form. Include Session Number in Comments, http://www.reb.org.au/contact.html The workshops are held at the Benalla Gliding Club from 7 until 9 pm
New, renewable energies are changing the way we get our energy. We are no longer reliant entirely on power from the big energy generators and companies.
We need to make sure that communities benefit from the renewable energy. The Community Energy model gives local towns and regions power over how they generate and consume electricity. Join us at a Community Energy Forum on Friday 3rd August at BPACC and find out what community energy means for you and our region. Locally generated renewable energy will create local jobs, cleaner energy and allow the community to control where their energy comes from. It means that towns can create mini-grids, where residents can trade power between themselves – powered by household solar and battery energy. This reduces reliance on the dirty and expensive national energy grid. A local community energy retailer is currently being developed to allow towns and regions to achieve their renewable energy goals. Come along and listen to some of Australia's foremost experts in the field explain how we can harness this new form of energy to build a new model of energy. Three great speakers will outline what community energy is and how we can benefit from it: Simon Corbell, Victorian Renewable Energy Advocate; Nicky Ison, Co-founder of the Community Power Agency; Alison Rowe, Chief Executive Officer of Moreland Energy Foundation. This is a free event but please RSVP for the Benalla meeting by 3 August at https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/benalla-community-energy-forum-tickets-47537010478 Download the Forum Flyer. The REB Efficiency Group had its second meeting on Tuesday June 26th at the Benalla Gliding Club. Howard asked us to think about orientation and how this might affect the comfort and efficiency of our homes. The movement of the sun around our homes is very predictable. Ideally the living area is best facing north to allow penetration of winter sun, however eaves will largely exclude the sun in the hot summer when the sun is high in the sky. Sleeping and utility areas are better placed on the south side of the house. The Australian Government website Your Home has an excellent guide to Passive Design, http://www.yourhome.gov.au/passive-design. Peter provided a brief outline of the Energy Freedom Home stepwise process of improving the energy efficiency of your home until eventually it can, after installation of solar panels, become a net exporter of energy. As Peter's home has a northerly facing living area he is investigating better utilising this aspect of the home to make it more comfortable and energy efficient. This could include replacing northerly windows with doors to allow more winter sun access. These doors would then also allow access to an outdoor living area which would become a private area after changes to fencing. He is also considering insulation, draft proofing, and windows. Peter recommended Sustainability Victoria's video, Energy Efficiency at Home. Other useful links with information on improving energy efficiency.
http://energyfreedom.com.au/ http://energyfreedom.com.au/book/ http://energyfreedom.com.au/success-stories/ http://www.yourhome.gov.au/ Indigo Shire Better Build Toolkit https://www.victorianenergysaver.vic.gov.au/ http://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/You-and-Your-Home ATA: Free Renter's guide to Sustainable Living https://passivehouseaustralia.org/about-us/ http://passivehouse.com.au/home Note that the third workshop scheduled for Tuesday July 24 has been cancelled. The workshop scheduled for Tuesday August 21 is going ahead and details about the content will be advised before the meeting. There will be a final workshop on Wednesday September 26.
Peter Maddock 0418 135 330 Renewable Energy Benalla has a keen interest in utility scale renewable energy developments and contributes as a community networker by learning about and sharing information about renewable energy proposals. REB recently publicised the Lightsource BP Urbis proposed solar installation at Winton. Information was shared about, and some BSFG members attended, a community information event held by Lightsource BP Urbis on June 13 at Winton Raceway. Kristi Jorgensen and her team from Urbis Lightsource BP welcomed visitors warmly to the community information session, sharing pamphlets, answering questions and listening to community feedback on the proposed solar installation.  Informative posters on display in the room have been made available to REB by Urbis for further information: The following morning REB committee members including John Lloyd and Peter Maddock met with Kristi and members of her team at a breakfast meeting to find out more about the proposal and share a community perspective.
Other resources: Lightsource BP Information Sheets about the Lightsource BP Solar Farm Proposal.  Recently public policy evaluation and consultancy firm URBIS contacted BSFG about a new Mokoan solar farm proposal at Lee Road Winton.
Representing Lightsource BP, Urbis has arranged a Community Information Drop-In Event to be held on Wednesday 13 June 2018 Winton Raceway 41 Fox Street, Winton. Visit the project team any time between 4pm and 7pm. Download information about the meeting. Lightsource BP is a global market leader in the development and long-term management of large-scale solar projects and smart energy solutions. Download information about the Lightsource BP Mokoan Solar Farm Proposal. The REB Efficiency Group had its first meeting on Tuesday May 22nd at the Benalla Gliding Club. This meeting provided a brief overview of the series with an emphasis on reading power meters and understanding power bills. It is considered useful to establish a baseline energy use before people embark on improving the energy efficiency of their homes so that improvements in performance can be measured. Geoff Lodge, CEO and Executive Director of GV Community Energy gave an informative talk on the Victorian Residential Efficiency Scorecard including some valuable insights on retrofitting. There are three more sessions in the series. Session 2 - Tuesday 26 June - Lighting, Draft Proofing and Insulation. Session 3 - Tuesday 24 July - Windows, Appliances & Cooking and Heating & Cooling. Session 4 - Tuesday 21 August - Hot Water, Energy Monitoring & Control and Solar Power. Information Links on Building Efficiency. http://energyfreedom.com.au/ http://energyfreedom.com.au/book/ http://www.yourhome.gov.au/ Indigo Shire Better Build Toolkit https://www.victorianenergysaver.vic.gov.au/ http://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/You-and-Your-Home ATA: Free Renter's guide to Sustainable Living Http://www.reb.org.au/reduce-13.html We encourage you to analyse your power bills to establish your baseline energy use. Full details in REB's 'Wipe Out Gas and Electricity Bills' flyer. A light supper will be available at the end of the evenings. RSVP by the Sunday before a session, Phone Peter 0418 135 330, AH Howard 0409 504 420
 Renewable Energy Benalla's Efficiency Group is conducting a series of workshops commencing Tuesday 22nd of May, from 7.00 until 9.00pm at the Benalla Gliding Club, Samaria Road, Benalla. RSVP Sunday before Session.
Titled “Wipe Out your Gas and Electricity Bills - Come and Find Out How” the series looks at options to improve energy efficiency in our homes. These improvements can increase the comfort of our homes and reduce energy costs. The series commences with an overview of how energy efficiency supports the Renewable Energy Benalla goal of Benalla becoming a Net Zero Stationary Energy City by 2028. Session 1 - Tuesday 22 May: Overview of project. Hear about the new Victorian Residential Efficiency Scorecard. Major emphasis on reading your meter to establish baseline energy use. Please bring in your power bills. Session 2 - Tuesday 26 June - Lighting, Draft Proofing and Insulation. Session 3 - Tuesday 24 July - Windows, Appliances & Cooking and Heating & Cooling. Session 4 - Tuesday 21 August - Hot Water, Energy Monitoring & Control and Solar Power. We encourage you to bring in your power bills to establish your baseline energy use. Full details in REB's 'Wipe Out Gas and Electricity Bills' flyer. A light supper will be available at the end of the evenings. RSVP by the Sunday before a session - let us know about additional participants phone Peter 0418 135 330, AH Howard 0409 504 420. REB Mondo Power Battery Ready Solar Bulk Buy Offer - Information Session Tuesday 10th April 7.30 pm BPACC Benalla Two information sessions held in April brought approximately 150 residents and business owners to BPACC keen to find out more about the Renewable Energy Benalla and Mondo Power battery ready solar bulk buy offer. The sessions were most informative, there were many thought provoking questions from the floor and some misconceptions cleared up - for example, to be part of a microgrid, it's not necessary to be in a grid organised by/with/for neighbours', a micro grid can apply to diverse participants located in Benalla and surrounds. REB's partnership with Mondo Power to provide a battery ready solar bulk buy offer for residents and businesses is now open. With a closing date of July 31st there is still time to consider the options and express your interest. A good starting point is Mondo Power's 'Benalla Community Energy Project' webpage. You might find the video - 'TRY & the Yack Mini Grid' helpful, as it describes a similar project. REB Mondo Power Battery Ready Solar Bulk Buy Offer - Information Session Sunday 22nd April 2.30 pm BPACC Benalla
If you are considering the Renewable Energy Benalla and Mondo Power's Bulk Buy offer, you may be interested in watching this video, which backgrounds a similar scheme in Yackandandah REB Report to BSFG Meeting, 22nd February, 2018
The BZE-Benalla Transition Strategy document details three major strategies that need to be implemented to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve zero net energy. These strategies are: i) Energy efficiency measures to reduce energy use, ii) Promote and install local roof top solar, iii) Investigate utility scale renewables, battery storage and micro grids. Mondo Power Bulk Buy Offer Mondo Power will be presenting their proposal for a bulk buy of panels, monitoring systems and eventually batteries, and the establishment of microgrids, to the Benalla community in early April. This proposal, if accepted by community members, will lead to increased numbers of PV panels on roofs and has the potential to see the establishment of microgrids in Benalla at a future date. Action Plans Small working groups have started to prepare plans to start on the implementation of the three major strategies mentioned above:
Offer of assistance from solar farm developer FRV Services Australia, a Solar Farm Developer, has approached BSFG/REB to offer assistance. This is part of the community engagement and benefit sharing by renewable energy project developers required by the Victorian government if they wish to be involved in the VRET. Financial support is certainly part of this assistance being offered and there may be other forms of assistance as well. Indi Energy Action Group Cathy McGowan, Federal Member for Indi, has established an Indi Energy Action Group to promote and support community energy groups across the electorate of Indi. Community Energy Retailer Work is being done to investigate the possibility of establishing a community energy retailer in north-east Victoria. The proposed community energy retailer would be a decentralised energy retailer providing a platform for local communities to achieve community energy goals and access locally generated renewable energy. REB Report to BSFG Meeting, 22nd February, 2018
The BZE-Benalla Transition Strategy document details three major strategies that need to be implemented to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve zero net energy. These strategies are: i) Energy efficiency measures to reduce energy use, ii) Promote and install local roof top solar, iii) Investigate utility scale renewables, battery storage and micro grids. Mondo Power Bulk Buy Offer Mondo Power will be presenting their proposal for a bulk buy of panels, monitoring systems and eventually batteries, and the establishment of microgrids, to the Benalla community in early April. This proposal, if accepted by community members, will lead to increased numbers of PV panels on roofs and has the potential to see the establishment of microgrids in Benalla at a future date. Action Plans Small working groups have started to prepare plans to start on the implementation of the three major strategies mentioned above:
Offer of assistance from solar farm developer FRV Services Australia, a Solar Farm Developer, has approached BSFG/REB to offer assistance. This is part of the community engagement and benefit sharing by renewable energy project developers required by the Victorian government if they wish to be involved in the VRET. Financial support is certainly part of this assistance being offered and there may be other forms of assistance as well. Indi Energy Action Group Cathy McGowan, Federal Member for Indi, has established an Indi Energy Action Group to promote and support community energy groups across the electorate of Indi. Community Energy Retailer Work is being done to investigate the possibility of establishing a community energy retailer in north-east Victoria. The proposed community energy retailer would be a decentralised energy retailer providing a platform for local communities to achieve community energy goals and access locally generated renewable energy. John Lloyd, Renewable Energy Benalla In October REB held a Benalla Business Breakfast with the support of Benalla Rural City, and the Benalla Business Network. The purpose of the breakfast was to open up communication with the business community about a renewable energy future for Benalla. Key elements of the BZE transition plan for Benalla were presented as were key findings from the Energy Survey of Benalla Businesses. It was also an opportunity for local businesses to share their experiences of reducing their energy use and/or generating some or all of their energy needs. Information was also provided on funding options and grants available to businesses to assist with costs of implementing options to reduce energy use and/or generate energy.
Transition Strategy REB has been working with Beyond Zero Emissions (BZE) to develop a ten year transition strategy for Benalla to achieve 100% renewable energy. This transition plan was completed in November and details three key strategies that need to be implemented to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve zero net energy. These strategies are: i) Energy efficiency measures to reduce energy use, ii) Promote and install local roof top solar, iii) Investigate utility scale renewables,battery storage and micro grids. On 28th November, Renewable Energy Benalla and Beyond Zero Emissions, with support from Benalla Rural City Council, held a community forum and workshop to launch the transition strategy and to explore opportunities for energy efficiency, roof top solar, bulk buy programs, community energy projects and the potential for utility scale renewable energy. As a result of this workshop a number of community members volunteered to form small action groups to help Renewable Energy Benalla implement each of the three strategies mentioned above. John Lloyd Source: BSFG December Newsletter 2017 The Transition Strategy developed by Beyond Zero Emissions and Renewable Energy Benalla included information on Benalla's greenhouse gas emissions and energy use. This data collected for 2016 establishes a baseline against which progress in reducing emissions and moving towards 100% renewable energy can be measured. In 2016, emissions relating to stationary energy for Benalla were 189,785 tonnes CO2-e. Total energy use between 2012 and 2016 increased by 2.7%, representing a 3% increase in electricity consumption and 2% increase in gas use. In 2016 the industrial sector was the largest consumer of electricity at 48%, compared to 33% residential and 19% commercial. Similarly, the industrial sector consumed 63% of gas, the residential sector 29% and the commercial sector 8%. Industrial electricity is the sector contributing the largest to Benalla’s GHG profile. The number of households in Benalla Rural City rose from 6,343 in 2012 to 6,517 in 2016. During this time electricity consumption per household per day reduced from 18.3 kWh to 17.9 kWh. Some major points from the Benalla Baseline Emissions Report show that within the Benalla municipality in 2016:
Originally Published in the December 2017 BSFG Newsletter. A community forum to launch Benalla's Zero Net Energy Transition Strategy will be held on Tuesday 28th November. The strategy is a plan for how all of Benalla's energy can come from renewable sources. This forum has been jointly organised by Renewable Energy Benalla and Beyond Zero Emissions with support from Benalla council.
The community group, Renewable Energy Benalla (REB), was established after the successful community forum held in October 2016 to discuss a renewable energy future for Benalla. The major objective of REB is to have Benalla become a zero net energy town by reducing energy use and balancing local energy needs with a 100% renewable energy supply. In December last year Beyond Zero Emissions (BZE), a national not for profit research and communication think tank, whose goal is to have Australia become a renewable energy superpower, selected Benalla as one of the three Victorian communities they would work with to help develop a transition strategy to zero net energy. In May this year REB conducted a community stakeholder workshop in conjunction with Beyond Zero Emissions to seek community input into the development of a transition strategy to 100% renewable energy for Benalla. Many ideas about possible actions to achieve zero net energy for Benalla were put forward under the three headings of: Buildings and Energy Efficiency; Solar and Community Energy; Large Scale Solar and Storage. These ideas have formed the basis of the transition strategy. John Lloyd, Convenor of Renewable Energy Benalla, said, "As well as launching the transition strategy the purpose of the forum will be to explore opportunities for energy efficiency, roof top solar, bulk buy programs, community energy projects, battery storage and large scale energy projects. We will also be looking to establish action groups to help REB drive each of these opportunities. We will need the help of community members if we are to make this happen." The forum will be held at BPACC on Monday 28th November from 7:00pm to 9:30pm. Everyone is welcome. For further information contact John Lloyd at andrewslloyd@iinet.net.au John Lloyd President, Benalla Sustainable Future Group Convenor, Renewable Energy Benalla A message from BSFG President John Lloyd with a date for our diaries....
'I have attached a notice about a Community Energy Forum from Totally Renewable Yackandandah to be followed by Festival of Dangerous Ideas discussion groups at Yackandandah. The speaker line up is truly amazing. I hope some of you can attend. John Lloyd' 'Community Renewable Energy - A Way Forward' "Totally Renewable Yackandandah are convening this timely forum to discuss and share knowledge of developments and opportunities for community renewable energy. Leading keynote speakers include Dr John Hewson (past Leader of the Federal Liberal Party); Dr Kate Auty (past Victorian Government Environment Commissioner, and current Commissioner in the ACT; and Dan Cass (The Australia Institute Energy Expert). They will inspire and provoke! As will other speakers to be announced. Totally Renewable Yackandandah will also discuss their projects . We are expecting participants from around Victoria and southern NSW. Join in more in-depth discussion groups immediately after the forum. And after that, you are welcome to join our annual street party - with music, food and cultural and activities - we'll show you a good time!" On Friday 1 December 2017 at 12:00pm - 3.30 pm LOCATION Yackandandah Public Hall 36 High Street, Yackandandah , Victoria 3749 The Forum will be followed by Group Workshop sessons. For more information, download flier below. For bookings - https://www.trybooking.com/322586 |
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