The Clean Energy Council has announced the winners of the 2019 Clean Energy Council Awards in Sydney, with winners spanning across innovation, community engagement, and marketing and communication.
Clean Energy Council Chief Executive, Kane Thornton, said the winning projects from AusNet Services, Mondo and Vicinity Centres all address specific needs in the industry and through varying strategies and plans work towards solving them.
“AusNet took out the Innovation Award for their outstanding project which gave foundation to the possibility that customer-owned solar PV and battery storage could provide voltage regulation services on the distribution network,” Mr Thornton said.
“Mondo developed a mini-grid in the small town of Yackandandah in Victoria allowing the community to receive 100 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2022. With the project already saving the town $160,000 in energy costs, the business was awarded the Community Engagement award.
“The inaugural Marketing and Communications award was won by Vicinity Centres for a communications campaign to promote their Integrated Energy Strategy to multiple stakeholders. The campaign achieved a reach of more than 1.8 million and has set the bar high for future finalists in this award.
“In addition, it is a pleasure to have awarded Simon Corbel the Outstanding Contribution to Industry Award for his years of service in the industry.
“Simon introduced Australia’s first reverse auction program for renewables while he was Deputy Chief Minister of the ACT, a highly innovative program that came during a very challenging time for the industry.
“He also led the territory’s push towards Australia’s most ambitious renewable energy target – 100 per cent by 2020. He has never wavered on the importance of addressing climate change, and he has found ways to deliver where others have struggled.”
The winners of the 2019 Clean Energy Council Awards are as follows:
Innovation Award:
Networks Renewed is a trial project that demonstrated that customer-owned solar PV and battery storage systems can provide voltage regulation services on the distribution network.
AusNet Services and Essential Energy partnered with the Institute for Sustainable Futures at the University of Technology Sydney, Mondo and Reposit.
The trial proved that voltage can be suppressed during high solar export periods by controlling reactive power capabilities of residential smart inverters.
This solution has enabled increased solar hosting capacity on the network and allows customers to generate more solar energy.
Community Engagement Award:
Mondo worked with community energy group Totally Renewable Yackandandah to develop a mini-grid project in the small Victorian town of Yackandandah that would enable it to get 100 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2022.
By early 2019, the mini-grid had generated 1GWh of locally produced renewable energy, saving the community more than $160,000 in energy costs and 1112 metric tonnes of CO2-e.
Marketing and Communications Award:
Vicinity Centres implemented a communications campaign to promote its Integrated Energy Strategy to a diverse set of stakeholders.
The campaign utilised assets within Vicinity’s more than 60 shopping centres as well as garnering national and local media coverage.
Its media and communications coverage reached an audience of more than 1.8 million people.
Outstanding Contribution to Industry Award:
Clean Energy Council Chief Executive, Kane Thornton, honoured former ACT Deputy Chief Minister and Environment Minister, Simon Corbell, for his years of tireless work for the industry.
