The urgent need for an energy system that tackles climate change and is resilient to the impacts of climate change will be highlighted at today's Parliament House Smart Energy Summit from 9.30am-12.30pm in Committee Room 2S3..
"Australia's Black Summer demonstrated climate change is here and we need to urgently reduce our emissions," said John Grimes, CEO of the Smart Energy Council, organisers of today's Summit.
"The good news is we have the renewable energy and storage technologies right now to deliver a zero carbon future and guess what - they are the cheapest forms of energy generation right now."
Speakers at the Parliament House Smart Energy Summit will brief MPs and Senators on the climate impacts on our energy system, the need for energy resilience and the latest developments with renewables and renewable hydrogen. The Summit will focus on employment and economic opportunities for regional Australia in a zero carbon future.
Local councils will explain how they are rebuilding after the bushfires with renewable energy microgrids providing energy now and reliability in future crises.
Helen Haines, Member for Indi and Chair of the cross-party Parliamentary Friends for Climate Action, who are hosting the Summit said:
"Communities across Indi and across Australia are taking control of their own futures by developing locally-sourced, clean power that ensures their energy security and lowers electricity costs".
"A transition to renewable energy means a multi-billion opportunity for regional Australia, and a boom in skills and training opportunities. With the right policy settings, we could have a sunbelt of local power stations stretching from Cape York to Esperance".
"The Government must do more to accelerate the development of this potentially nation-defining industry and unlock this endless source of cheap energy to drive our regions forward."
Zali Steggall, Member for Warringah and Deputy Chair of Parliamentary Friends for Climate Action said:
"This is an opportunity to be informed by experts in the energy transition and the benefits for regional Australia. I warmly welcome MPs from both sides to attend this important forum. This is essential for us to create bipartisan solutions for the future."
Highlights of the Parliament House Smart Energy Summit include:
9.45am Prof Frank Jotzo, ANU. Climate impacts on our Energy System.
10.00am Eurobodalla Shire Council and Shoalhaven City Council (south coast NSW), Rebuilding and Energy Resilience after the Bushfires.
10.15am Ted Surette, Partner and Global Sector Head, Power & Utiliites, KPMG . Global Perspectives on Smart Energy.
10.30am Gabrielle Kuiper, Energy Security Board. The role of distributed energy resources.
10.45am Simon Holmes a Court, Melbourne University. Building a zero emissions energy system.
11.20am Prof Ken Baldwin, ANU. Opportunities and Challenges for Renewable Hydrogen Exports.
Parliament House Smart Energy Summit, 9.30am-12.30pm, 27 February, Committee Room 2S3. Full program athttps://www.smartenergy.org.au/news/parliament-house-smart-energy-summit-2020
