Cleantech in Australia has been growing by leaps and bounds. Australian Cleantech provides numerous services, including the development of different policy initiatives that would stimulate future cleantech investments. Through Cleantech Australia, many topics have been covered, including renewable energy, low emission technologies, recycling, low emissions transport technologies, water and wastewater treatment and reuse technologies, and demand side management for water, energy, and various other resources.
1) Waste Management Association of Australia. In Australia, one of the largest things concentrated on is waste management. The Waste Management Association of Australia, or WMAA, participates in the complete development of the industry of waste management. WMAA positions itself to meet the ongoing demands of the global market that requires environmental and economic sustainable solutions. They assist different businesses and companies in deducing the most effective ways to deal with their waste into sustainable solutions.
2) The National Association of Forest Industries. The vision of the National Association of Forest Industries, or NAFI, is to create an Australian society that is ecologically sustainable and based on an international forest industry that is competitive. Australia has over 150 hectares in forests, which is more than 20% of the entire continent. The renewable, sustainable commercial forests in Australia are following the highest environmental standards throughout the world. Since 2009, NAFI has commenced a project that will take three years to finish. It is to increase the ability of the forest industry to decrease the harmful effects of the changing client.
3) Energy Supply Association of Australia. Established in 2004, Energy Supply Association of Australia, or ESAA looks at the factors that affect the energy supply sector of Australia. They are dedicated to achieve policies, market reforms, and regulatory arrangements that will contribute to the energy future of Australia. ESAA supports the constant development and implementation of emissions trading schemes to reduce the effects of greenhouse gas emissions.
4) Cleantech Ventures. Sitting in Melbourne is Cleantech Ventures, a venture capital company known for investing in the cleantech sector. In their current portfolio, companies included are responsible for developing technologies that are presently targeting water, energy, and advanced materials sectors. Some companies they are investing in including OceanLinx, a company producing wave energy converter systems, Ecoult, a company creating technology for a hybrid battery, Ember Technologies, a company that developed and implemented a new controlling and power-sensing technology that will actually eliminate standby power consumption in many offices and homes throughout Australia.
5) BP Solar Australia. BP Solar opened an office recently in Australia. BP is now looking into solar power as a renewable and clean energy source that will assist individuals and businesses in not only saving money, but protecting the environment as well. BP Solar has long recognized the challenges posed by the current climate change and are, therefore, looking at the sun as a cleaner, sustainable technology. A key section of the BP Solar Australia strategy is to focus on harnessing the energy of the sun to produce electricity from solar power. BP Solar Australia is currently manufacturing numerous solar electricity systems for the market for not just businesses and governments, but also homeowners, schools, and developing communities.
6) Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator. The Australian government created the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator to look over the implementation of small scale renewable energy schemes (SRES) and large scale renewable energy targets (LRET). The SRES provides financial incentives for business owners to install small scale solar water systems or wind systems. LRET provides financial incentives to large-scale renewable power stations, including hydro-electric, wind, and solar, by offering a mechanism for the production of large scale generation certificates according to the amount of renewable energy electricity produced by them.
7) Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency. The Australian government also created the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency. This is the main vehicle the government is using to lower carbon pollution to Kyoto Protocol levels, which is by 108% of the levels recorded in 1990. The government understands that it has a responsibility toward future generations and wants to create a future that is low in carbon pollution. Their Renewable Energy Target assists in the research and development of clean energy, and assists in measuring businesses, communities, households, and regions transition to a future low in carbon pollution. The climate change policy has three distinct pillars – to reduce overall emissions, adapt to the climate change that cannot be avoided, and shapre a new global solution.
8 ) Australian Greenhouse Office. Australia created the world’s first official government agency dedicated to reducing total greenhouse gas emissions. The Australian Greenhouse Office, or AGO, was created in 1998 to provide a new approach to the rising greenhouse gas emissions problem. The AGO is responsible for a number of mandatory programs for buildings, industrial equipment, and domestic appliance, including Energy Star and Energy Rating.
9) Australian Center for Renewable Energy. Through the Clean Energy Initiative, the Australian Center for Renewable Energy was created. The objective as such is for the promotion of the development, deployment, and commercialization of renewable energy, enabling technologies, and improving the overall competitiveness throughout Australia. The Australian Center for Renewable Energy is currently becoming the Australian government’s central contact point for its ongoing support in the field of renewable energy. Some of the objectives of the Australian Center for Renewable Energy include the development and implementation of a funding strategy able to support different innovative projects, and providing advice and support to the government, industry, as well as community on renewable energies and enabling various technologies, strategies, and various related issues when requested.
10) The Australian Solar Energy Society. The Australian Solar Energy Society, or AuSES, is one of the main providers of solar energy information within Australia. The members of AuSES include architects, academics, engineers, students, tradesmen, and solar energy companies. The objectives of AuSES includes promoting research, adoption, and development of solar energy low emission technologies, promote viable research on the use of solar energy, and to advocate the implementation of appropriate government policies and programs to endorse the use of solar energy.
Article by Shawn Lesser, president and founder of Atlanta-based Sustainable World Capital, which is focused on fund-raising for private equity cleantech/sustainable funds, as well as private cleantech companies and M&A. He is also a co- founder of the GCCA Global Cleantech Cluster Association, and can be reached at shawn.lesser@sworldcap.com
