Australia’s largest clean energy event provided a window into the nation’s renewables future during two days in Melbourne in October.
The renewables industry converged on Melbourne in October 2023 for All-Energy Australia. Held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, the nation’s largest clean energy event delivered two days of ideas, innovation and optimism for the future of green power in Australia.
This year’s edition of the expo and conference attracted a record of more than 11,500 visitors across two days, which highlights the clean energy industry’s enthusiasm and commitment to advancing the future of renewables and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
All-Energy Australia was a powerhouse of ideas and insights, showcasing the latest advancements in the clean energy sector and providing a platform for industry leaders, professionals and enthusiasts to converge, explore, learn and collaborate.
“The two days were incredible with exhibition halls busy and conference sessions at standing room only,” Robby Clark, portfolio director at event organiser RX Global said.
“We were already aware that registrations had surpassed all previous records ahead of the show, but discovering the total attendance was a thrilling moment.
“With our exhibitor numbers up 21 per cent and the conference growing substantially with daily plenaries and nine separate streams, the overwhelming response from attendees underscores the industry’s thirst for knowledge, collaboration and innovation.
“All-Energy Australia 2023 has not only exceeded our expectations, but has set a new standard for excellence in the clean energy events landscape.
The Clean Energy Council is a partner of the event, and the organisation’s chief executive, Kane Thornton, is encouraged by its year-on-year growth.
“This has been a massive step up from last year to this year and we think it’s going to keep growing,” he said. “It’s the biggest exhibition for the entire clean energy industry with more than 400 exhibitors showcasing the latest products alongside a fantastic speaker program. We had some extraordinary keynote speakers and some highly technical sessions during the two days.
“One of my highlights was the extraordinary technologies on display in the exhibition hall, with exciting new technologies that make it easier to install and electrify people’s homes. That gives a lot of benefit to householders who are trying to do the right thing, go solar, electrify their home, lower their power bills and make a contribution to saving the planet.”
All-Energy Australia featured more than 400 expert speakers, covering a range of themes including decarbonisation, solar, energy storage, electric vehicles, hydrogen, grid integration, and energy security and reliability. The insightful sessions delved into the latest developments, trends and projections in the national and international energy sector.
Darren Miller, CEO of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, gave a keynote address on the opening day, stating that progress in the industrial sector is critical to reducing carbon emissions by 43 per cent by 2030 and achieving net zero by 2050.
The event also featured the Energy Management Zone that shone a spotlight on sustainable solutions driving improved energy management, plus the revamped Clean Energy Council Solar Masterclass that delivered expert advice and professional growth opportunities for solar installers and designers.
Being co-located with Waste Expo Australia under the one roof created a comprehensive showcase of clean energy and sustainability, offering attendees a multifaceted perspective on the path to a greener future.
All-Energy Australia has fostered knowledge and innovation, and ignited a collective commitment to shaping a cleaner, more sustainable energy landscape. The 2024 edition will return to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on 23-24 October 2024.
Climate and clean energy Australia’s next big employer
Clean energy and climate change-related industries will be Australia’s next big employer, according to Atlassian and Boundless Earth co-chief executive Mike Cannon-Brookes.
“I’m here to talk to you about climate jobs because I believe climate jobs are Australia’s next big employer,” he said in a keynote speech at the Careers for Net Zero Fair in Melbourne on 26 October, 2023, an event that ran in conjunction with All-Energy Australia.
Careers for Net Zero is a joint campaign from the Clean Energy Council and Energy Efficiency Council to address the skills shortage jeopardising Australia’s legislated 82 per cent renewable energy target by 2030.
Both organisations believe 200,000 new jobs in renewables are necessary to meet the 2030 target. They say two million positions need to be created to achieve net zero by 2030.
“The green economy is Australia’s golden ticket,” Cannon-Brookes said.
“But the biggest risk is not having enough people in the right places to execute it.
“This is why today’s careers fair is such an important moment.
“It’s going to be a whole-of-economy effort to keep up with what will be the biggest shift in Australia since someone put rocks on a boat and shipped them overseas to be burnt.”