Renewable energy event plugs in to green interest

Clean Energy Week is on track to be Australia’s largest and most successful renewable energy event, according to the Clean Energy Council.

Running 2-7 May, the event is the first of its kind, combining the Clean Energy Council’s national conference and ATRAA, the largest solar conference in Australia, into a week-long event in Melbourne.

Deputy Greens leader, Christine Milne has confirmed her availability to open the ATRAA solar conference as part of Clean Energy Week, which last year drew more than 700 delegates to Alice Springs.

Clean Energy Council chief executive, Matthew Warren said that interest from businesses and delegates from both Australia and overseas had been “extraordinary”.

“As renewable energy enjoys 90 per cent support from the general public the appetite for information is huge. Consequently, businesses and other people working in the space are looking at Clean Energy Week as a way to plug in and connect,” Mr Warren said.

More than 2000 business leaders, decision-makers, politicians, international delegates, solar installers and school kids are expected to attend. In a watershed for the industry, most major sponsorships have already sold.

“All the major sponsorships have sold out, our solar and wind exhibition space has already sold and there are over 300 delegates already registered from across the country – even though registrations only opened recently. If you’re serious about doing business in clean energy in Australia, this is one event you shouldn’t miss,” he said.

The Clean Energy Council is the peak body for the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries. Clean Energy Week is the only major national event run by the industry for the industry. Any money made by the event is fed back into clean energy initiatives.

Mr Warren said Clean Energy Week will include an educational program for school kids, tours of clean energy facilities, debates and public lectures as well.

The event has more than 80 sponsors and exhibitors locked in and 10 international speakers have already confirmed, including:

• Nth Power managing director, Nancy Floyd, one of the leading technology venture capital firms from the US;

• UK Business Council for Sustainable Energy chief executive, David Green, OBE;

• Recurrent Energy chief executive, Arno Harris. Based in the US, Recurrent Energy is a start-up solar energy business that was bought by Sharp last year for more than $300 million;

• Lockheed Martin vice president new industries, Andy Solem. Mr Solem will talk about the opportunities for renewable energy in the defence industry; and

• Garrad Hassan’s Dr Andrew Garrad, one of the founders of the leading international renewable energy consultancy.

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