SUMMARYSome people think that “renewable energy”  is all about solar panels, wind turbines and batteries.    They can be trapped into thinking that if they can’t afford to install solar panels and batteries or buy green power then there’s no useful action they can take towards increasing the take up of renewable energy. 

Climate energy solutions are about re-inventing our complex, 1-way energy distribution systems.  There’s a lot more than just plugging in a couple of new power sources to replace coal-fired generators.  

So it can really be worth looking at the broader picture – because you might have options you didn’t realise - at home, where you work, or in your community.  Let's explore just some of the fascinating solutions being implemented in Australia and around the world.

LINKS

Local renewable energyRefrigeration solution in Africa: https://www.fastcompany.com/90489600/this-pay-as-you-go-solar-fridge-helps-poor-african-families-save-money-and-food Totally Renewable Yackandandah: http://totallyrenewableyack.org.au/ Indigo Power: https://indigopower.com.au/ Enova Energy: https://enovaenergy.com.au/  Australian Community Energy Coops: https://c4ce.net.au/ Solar garden in the Riverina: https://pingala.org.au/haystacks-solar-garden/ Community hydro in the Yarra Valley:  https://upperyarra.net.au/upper-yarra-community-power/ 

EV solutionsEV recharging with wave power: https://www.thedrive.com/tech/39885/ocean-waves-alone-power-the-ev-charger-on-this-remote-scottish-island  Lamp post EV chargers: https://thedriven.io/2020/03/24/siemens-converts-all-lamp-posts-on-residential-street-to-electric-car-chargers/ and   https://www.ubitricity.com/  Australian Ace EVs  https://www.ace-ev.com.au/ Lifetime costs of EVs: https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2021/09/electric-cars-can-cost-40-less-to-maintain-than-gasoline-cars/  EV cost calculator:  https://electricvehiclecouncil.com.au/about-ev/cost-calculator/ 

Solar re-imaginedWholesale market access: https://www.amberelectric.com.au/how-it-works Solar without panels: https://onestepoffthegrid.com.au/batteries-with-no-solar-changing-market-gives-households-new-energy-options/ Factories as solar farms: https://onestepoffthegrid.com.au/new-rooftop-solar-urban-power-stations-to-play-both-sides-of-the-meter/  Floating solar: https://reneweconomy.com.au/massive-60mw-floating-solar-plant-secures-25-year-ppa-in-singapore-25262/  and https://reneweconomy.com.au/china-completes-new-70mw-floating-solar-pv-project-on-old-coal-area-93542/  and https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-16/australias-first-floating-solar-farm-will-be-buoyant-in-lismore/9157878  Plant-saving solar farm: https://reneweconomy.com.au/gupta-solar-farm-to-employ-innovative-construction-method-to-save-bonsai-forest-86366/  Farms as solar farms: https://www.energymatters.com.au/renewable-news/how-a-solar-and-agriculture-partnership-can-rescue-aussie-farms/ 

Enabling financial shifts

Blockchain-enables local energy tradinghttps://www.me-solshare.com/what-we-do/ Solar AND battery as a service: https://thefifthestate.com.au/energy-lead/energy/so-now-you-can-pay-for-your-solar-on-a-planit-looks-like-a-phone-plan-and-business-is-doing-really-well Community-funded renewables investing: https://www.thefifthestate.com.au/energy-lead/business-energy-lead/green-loans-on-the-rise-with-plentis-opensolar-deal 

Hydrogen variants Green hydrogen from Fukushima: https://www.rechargenews.com/transition/japan-opens-worlds-largest-green-hydrogen-plant-near-fukushima-disaster-site/2-1-769361 Large scale hydrogen storage: https://reneweconomy.com.au/regional-nsw-town-to-host-large-scale-hydrogen-energy-storage-project-states-first-79334/ BP and hydrogen: https://reneweconomy.com.au/bp-looks-to-add-1-5gw-wind-and-solar-for-huge-renewable-hydrogen-project-in-w-a-45931/ Home hydrogen energy storage: https://ideaspies.com/posts/residential-solar-hydrogen-energy-stor