WHAT ARE SMART ENERGY COUNCIL’S WORKING GROUPS?
The Smart Energy Council’s working groups are chaired by leading member companies, policy and industry experts. Each working group meets regularly to discuss barriers and opportunities in the smart energy sector and adjacent industries, informing Smart Energy Council policy submissions and advocacy priorities.
Working groups will make ad-hoc delegations to State and Federal Parliaments, as well as overseas, in order to represent industry at the highest levels. Each group’s diverse membership, from a wide array of companies and organisations, provides the most cutting-edge advice guiding the Smart Energy Council’s comprehensive policy design.
SMART ENERGY COUNCIL CURRENTLY FACILITATES FOLLOWING WORKING GROUPS:
- Climate Capital Forum | Chair – Blair Palese, Ethinvest
- Distributed Energy Resources (DER) | Chair – Wilf Johnston, Enphase Energy
- Large Scale Renewables | Chair – Jonathan Upson, Tilt Renewables
- Manufacturers & Australian Made | Chair – Rod Scott, Selectronic
- Renewable Hydrogen | Chair – Joanna Kay – Zero Carbon Hydrogen Australia
- Smart Transport | Chair – Jason Venning, FIMER
- Solar Installers | Chair – Alistair McGrath-Kerr, Smart Energy Council
- Solar Panel Recycling | Chair – Carlos Nunez, Smart Energy Council
Climate Capital Forum
Chair – Blair Palese, Ethinvest
The Climate Capital Forum was established to keep Australia in the game as we race to Net Zero, plotting Australian renewable energy investment on a strategic course to decarbonise our economy. Taking an empirical approach to Australia’s renewable energy investment environment, providing advice to departments and leaders – helping Australia to realise its potential as a renewable energy and critical minerals superpower.
Involved Members:
Distributed Energy Resources (DER)
Chair – Wilf Johnston, Enphase Energy
Distributed Energy Resources (DER) like solar PV, batteries, electric vehicles, and demand response are playing a greater and greater role in our energy system. The DER working group generates storage policy advice, V2G standards development, solar-grid integration and more.
Involved Members:
Large Scale Renewables
Chair – Jonathan Upson, Tilt Renewables
The Large Scale Renewables working group successfully saw the adoption of the Capacity Investment Scheme. A policy generated through the work of this group, $10 billion in new dispatchable renewable energy projects has been unlocked. The group also advises on the replacement of the Large-scale Renewable Energy Target (LRET) and the Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin Scheme.
Involved Members:
Manufacturers & Australian Made
Chair – Rod Scott, Selectronic
The Manufacturers Working Group focuses on promoting Australian smart energy companies that are currently innovating, developing and manufacturing smart energy products in Australia.
Currently developing our policy on local content for the SEC to present to the Government in
ongoing advocacy. Providing advice to the Smart Energy Council that feeds into our work as a member of the National Reconstruction Fund advisory committee.
Involved Members:
Renewable Hydrogen
Chair – Joanna Kay, Zero Carbon Hydrogen Australia
The renewable hydrogen working group is the brains trust for directing Zero Carbon Hydrogen Australia’s policy advice and the Zero Carbon Certification Scheme.
Involved Members:
Smart Transport
Chair – Jason Venning, FIMER
The Smart Transport working group acts as a brain trust for our transport advocacy – striving for a transport system that is clean, accessible, equitable, and connected to the energy grid of the future. Working group members receive industry updates, network with other members, hear from subject-matter experts and inform our transport advocacy.
Involved Members:
Solar Installers
Chair – Alistair McGrath-Kerr, Smart Energy Council
The Solar Installers Working Group offers guidance for establishing the Installer Accreditation Scheme, directing training, and providing an installer’s perspective on recycling and industry issues.
Involved Members:
Solar Panel Recycling
Chair – Carlos Nunez, Smart Energy Council
The Queensland Solar Recycling Consultation Committee meets regularly during the two-phase solar recycling pilot. The group’s findings and recommendations guide the process of the solar panel recycling scheme and will reflect in the final recommendations provided to the Queensland State Government.
Involved Members:
Gender Action Plan
Chair – Nicolette Boele, Smart Energy Council
The Queensland Solar Recycling Consultation Committee meets regularly during the two-phase solar recycling pilot. The group’s findings and recommendations guide the process of the solar panel recycling scheme and will reflect in the final recommendations provided to the Queensland State Government.