The conference was attended by 130 industry specialists and allowed for the exchange of expertise and experience between the two countries. Organised by the German – Australian Chamber of Industry and Commerce (GACIC), the event explored the theme ‘Transporting renewables into the future’.

New South Wales Deputy Premier and Minister for Climate Change and the Environment Carmel Tebbutt officially opened the conference. Minister Tebbutt announced the government’s plan to introduce a solar feed-in tariff for the state. She joined 17 speakers from associations and clean tech companies to discuss market opportunities and challenges for solar and bioenergy in Australia.

Delegates were then welcomed by Consul General of the German Consulate of New South Wales Hans-Gunter Gnodtke. Director General of the New South Wales Department of State and Regional Development Barry Buffier and Executive Director of the GACIC Markus Gilbert also welcomed delegates and introduced the primary topics for discussion.

“Since 2004 the employment within Germany’s renewables sector rose by 55 per cent – I was thrilled to learn that sustainable energy can contribute to such a healthy economy. We hope our conference was the first step to plant similar success on Australian soil,” said Mr Gilbert.

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Renewable energy generates 15 per cent of Germany’s total electricity. The photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal industries created 50,700 jobs by 2007. On average the number of employees within the renewables industry increased by 55 per cent in only 3 years and approximately 3,600 bioenergy plants are currently in operation.

The speakers presenting session one ‘Renewable energies – the current view’ included Joachim Berner from the Renewables Academy (Renac), Andrew Burnard from the Department of Water and Energy, Christian Jenssen from Macquarie Capital Advisers, and Ian Taylor from Dibbs Abbott Stillman. Speakers covered the legal aspects, policy developments and financial considerations of commercialising renewable energy in Australia.

Matthias Klauss from BioVAG GbR presented an overview of biomass and biogas in Germany, and Klaus Baumgartel from Industry Capability Network outlined the opportunities for bioenergy in Australia.

The presenters on the solar industry included Burkhard Holder representing the German Solar Industry Association, Deputy Head of Business Development of Phoenix Solar Johannes Stierstorfer, and Robert Dane from Solar Sailor Holdings. Mr Holder spoke about the current status and perspectives of solar thermal and PV technology in Germany, explaining how feed-in tariff laws operate. Mr Stierstorfer addressed business development and the company’s involvement in Desert Knowledge Australia. The lunch buffet also offered an important networking opportunity.

Consultant for the GACIC Christian Haag said “As the conference was held in conjunction with a trade delegation of six companies from Germany’s solar and bioenergy industry, we organised and accompanied about 70 individual meetings between the German companies and pre-selected Australian business partners including creditors, suppliers, installers, distributors, energy retailers.

“It was interesting to learn about the market mechanisms such as feed-in tariffs. The German industry representatives opposed the proposed net feed-in tariff, saying it would not drive change. In a nutshell, the renewable energy industry demands a national gross feed-in tariff, and policies that guarantee a stable market environment for investors.”