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EcoGen 2010 delivers: industry united in Sydney

Kim Haworth October 20, 2010

2 min read

Held at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre from 5–8 September 2010, the inaugural three-day Conference and Exhibition hosted over 1,000 attendees.

The event had strong support from the industry’s associations, including the Energy Efficiency Council, the Australian Solar Energy Society, the Australian Geothermal Energy Association, the Australian Alliance to Save Energy, Bioenergy Australia, the Western Australian Sustainable Energy Association and the Australian Association for Hydrogen Energy (AAHE).

These industry associations played an important role in the success of the event, with many of the association heads chairing panel sessions, delivering presentations, and contributing to the development of the conference program in the lead up to the event.

The newest association to join the clean energy space, AAHE, was officially launched by Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP during EcoGen 2010 on Monday 6 September, at a cocktail function that celebrated the establishment of the association and its future endeavours.

Hon. Peter Rae AO, Senior Vice President of the World Wind Energy Association, gave the opening address to attendees. Ian Porter, CEO of the Alternative Technology Association, Australia’s leading not-for-profit organisation promoting sustainable technology and practice for households, gave the post-Federal election briefing, analysing the relevant policies of the major parties.

Day two of EcoGen 2010, on Tuesday 7 September, was an exciting and rousing affair, the highlight being an appeal by Australian Greens Senator Christine Milne during a keynote address for the various clean energy industry interest groups and associations to unite in order to pave a way forward.

Senator Milne said that the unique minority government scenario that will be in place for the next three years would be a fantastic opportunity for the clean and renewable energy industries to push for real policy changes, only if the kind of changes sought can be agreed upon, and agreed upon quickly.

Day three saw streamed sessions from the different renewable and clean energy industries. John Grimes, CEO of the Australian Solar Energy Society, chaired the solar stream; Susan Jeanes, CEO of the Australian Geothermal Energy Association chaired a session on geothermal energy; and the session on industrial energy efficiency was chaired by Rob Murray-Leach, CEO Energy Efficiency Council. Stephen Schuck, Manager of Bioenergy Australia, chaired the bioenergy session.

EcoGen 2011 will be held at the Brisbane Convention Centre from 4–7 September 2011.

For further information visit www.ecogen2011.com