PodCasts

PodCast: Season 1 
Community Energy
Voices from the North East, Victoria, Australia

NEW 2022: Neighbourhood Scale Batteries (NSBs) 

On this episode of Green Energy Videos we speak with Dr Marnie Shaw.

Marnie Shaw is a Senior Research Fellow in the School of Engineering and a Research Leader in the Battery Storage and Grid Integration Program at the Australian National University. 

Dr Shaw's current research interests lie in applying data analytics and machine learning to a range of data-rich problems, including the integration of renewable energy into the electricity grid. At the ANU, she has been looking at how energy storage can support increasing amounts of renewable energy in the grid, while reducing energy costs for consumers, and addressing important issues around energy equity.


Episode 1: Indigo Power

Welcome to Green Energy Videos, my name is Simon Duncan and I am the creator of Green Energy Videos. Green Energy Videos is an online video / communications company focused specifically on Renewable Energy and Sustainability. 


For this series of podcasts I’ll be focusing on the exciting and innovative approach to Australia’s Energy needs.

 

 There’s something unique in (North East) Victoria, Australia rolling hills, valleys of beauty, fine dining and wine, winter sports and more. But in this podcast series I’m wanting to talk about something different. Renewable Energy and how various communities of the NE of Victoria are taking up this call and running with it in a unique and exciting way. Collaboration, Survival, Identity and empowerment are major themes I’m wanting to explore in this series. A catch phrase for this series might be “How can Non experts achieve SO MUCH!” So please listen, enjoy and hopefully be inspired.


Indigo Power is a community owned energy company and social enterprise committed to powering our communities with clean energy. Located in regional Victoria, Australia, Simon Duncan director of Green Energy Videos spoke with CEO Ben McGowan.

Indigo Power is a certified social enterprise. Social enterprises are businesses that trade to intentionally address social problems, improve communities, provide people access to employment and training, or help the environment.

Indigo Power's purpose is to deliver 100% renewable energy across North East Victoria and Southern NSW, in a way that supports and empowers communities. They are committed, and will spend half their profits on achieving their renewable energy target.

 Episode 2: Sustainable Upper Ovens
Sustainable Upper Ovens (SUO) is community-based organisation formed in 2018 aimed at helping householders and small businesses to adopt improved energy efficiency measures, switch to renewable energy and maximise opportunities to reduce, reuse and recycle our resources. 

We are networked with other community groups in the region including Totally Renewable Yackandandah, and Renewable Albury Wodonga Energy and the Upper Ovens Valley Landcare Group.

The Upper Ovens Valley covers a considerable part of the upper catchment of the Ovens River, from Ovens through Porepunkah and Bright to Harrietville, incorporating the Buckland Valley and Wandiligong Valley.

 Episode 3: Totally Renewable Beechworth
A community energy initiative for Beechworth and 3747 area to be powered by 100% renewable energy by 2030.  
This initiative commenced in late 2017, led by a small group of dedicated people and supported by Indigo Shire. Hundreds in the community have voiced support for the 100% target and the need to support practical action.

Key drivers for Totally Renewable Beechworth are the need to: 

Decarbonise – switch from carbon fuels to renewable energy and reduce the amount of energy we use. Taking action locally in response to climate change. 

Secure reliable supply – protect against rising prices. Maximise output from rooftop solar and build local infrastructure for a more interactive grid and greater self sufficiency.

Democratise - build community ownership of renewable energy generation and deliver benefits back to the community. Focus on social equity and inclusion. 

Our strategic directions document outlines the driving factors for the creation of Totally Renewable Beechworth, sets out a pathway to the target and how the Totally Renewable Beechworth group plan to support a movement for action across the community. 

Episode 4: Renewable Albury Wodonga & Beyond Housing Social collaboration
Renewable Albury Wodonga Energy (RAW Energy) is a group of active citizens working to increase the uptake of renewable energy in Albury Wodonga. RAW Energy believes that our community can develop renewable energy projects that will reduce reliance on fossil fuels and provide an economic, social and environmental advantage to our community.

BeyondHousing: We are the largest community housing organisation within the Goulburn and Ovens Murray regions of Victoria. We own or manage over 700 properties including long term community housing and transitional housing.

We are the main entry point for the homelessness system and provide a range of supports for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Each year we see over 5,500 people in need of assistance to secure or maintain their housing.
We have over 50 skilled staff supporting offices in Wodonga, Wangaratta, Shepparton and Seymour. We also provide outreach to Wallan, Broadford, Kilmore, Alexandra, Yea, Myrtleford, Yarrawonga, Cobram and Benalla.

BeyondHousing is a registered Housing Association in Victoria and we have achieved accreditation for Human Services Standards.





Episode 5: TRY - Totally Renewable Yackandandah
Totally Renewable Yackandandah (TRY) is a community group, formed at the beginning of 2014 as a result of a community energy forum in Yackandandah, organised by Indigo Shire Council. TRY has brought together community members passionate about the notion of powering their town with 100 per cent renewable energy, and aims to achieve “energy sovereignty” for Yackandandah by the year 2022.

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