WELCOMING | Two New Staff Members!
Exciting News - we're welcoming Finn Buchhorn and Nicole Lonergan to our team!
Finn is joining us as our newest Project Officer. He has a burning passion for driving decarbonisation through the uptake of clean technologies. A graduate from Monash’s Science - Global Challenges program, he has several years’ experience as a project manager on some of Australia’s first hydrogen mobility projects. Joining YEF in 2024, Finn now applies his generalist skillset, adaptability and understanding of the challenges facing new technologies to help enable the energy transition.
At YEF, Finn will be largely working with the energy and storage team on our ongoing battery projects. We are greatly looking forward to his contributions to this exciting work.
Nicole is joining us as our Administration & Project Support Officer. She is dedicated to making a meaningful contribution to protecting our environment and reducing emissions. With a background in production management, she uses her expertise in optimising systems and processes to improve efficiency, creating more time for the important work being done to tackle climate change. Nicole is driven by a deep commitment to creating a sustainable future through practical actions.
Please join us in welcoming them both to our talented team!
BUILDING | Industry Capacity with Neighbourhood Battery Training!
Two weeks ago, we completed a successful 2-day Neighborhood Battery Training Course, with 18 participants from across Victoria. This initiative was made possible thanks to funding from the Victorian Government’s Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, helping us build a more knowledgeable industry.
We have another sold out session in April, with hopes we may be able to offer more training opportunities in the future.
A big thank you to our guest speakers, Mark Wexler, Aaron Hall, Sandy Atkins, and Mitch O'Neill, for sharing their valuable expertise. Your contributions greatly enriched the experience for all involved.
We're motivated by the positive feedback and look forward to offering more opportunities like this. Thanks to everyone who made it a success!
ATTENDING | Community Energy Congress
Hundreds gathered in Sydney for the Community Energy Congress last month alongside the Smart Energy Expo to raise important discussions on the role of community in our renewable energy future.
The Congress brought together leaders from communities, government, infrastructure providers and business to focus on how community participation can speed the urgent transition to renewable energy.
YEF presented on electrification and neighbourhood batteries, sharing knowledge and raising important discussions about what role communities and neighbourhood-scale solutions will have, particularly from a Victorian perspective.
We also want to commend Sally Hunter’s article in Switched On, which you can read here: An Open Letter to renewable energy developers to get a grip and do better
We look forward to next year’s iteration of the Congress and certainly hope to be invited back! A huge thanks and congratulations to the entire C4CE team for putting on this important event.
VIC | GOV | ANNOUNCING | More Neighbourhood Batteries
The Victorian Government has announced the recipients of the first round of funding under the 100 Neighbourhood Batteries program.
This initiative will see the deployment of 25 neighbourhood batteries across 20 towns, delivering more than 4.2 megawatt hours of new storage capacity.
This significant step forward will help drive down power bills by allowing more local generation and consumption of renewable energy.
We'd like to congratulate all the recipients and celebrate the progress towards more sustainable energy solutions in our communities. For more information on the program and its impact, visit the official announcement below.
REPORTING | Insights from our community battery survey
Last year, we had the privilege of being selected as one of the six esteemed beneficiaries of the Yarra Trams Community Partnership Program for 2023. This saw our community battery-themed tram grace the network, capturing the attention of countless commuters and passersby over its four-month journey, including the bustling month of January during the Australian Open.
As part of this campaign, we launched an engaging and enlightening quiz, designed to hear individuals’ understanding and level of support for the innovative technology.
The quiz was completed by nearly 200 participants, providing exciting insights into the public’s perception of community batteries.
You can see the most interesting insights in our recent blog post by clicking the link below.
SHOWING | Your solar some love – solar safety
Your rooftop solar system sits outside in all kinds of weather, giving you cheaper electricity to keep your home warm in winter and cool in summer.
Over 2022-2023, there were more than 50 rooftop house fires on systems that had never been serviced. Had these systems been serviced, these fires would have been prevented.
Poorly maintained systems can result in faults and increase risks like fire. To keep it running safely and efficiently, book a licensed electrician to service your solar system every 2 years.
LEARNING | How to test your safety switch
Fire brigades respond to more than 300 domestic electrical fires each year. Many of these fires are caused by old wiring that has degraded or is unable to cope with the demands of modern electrical equipment. In addition to the risk of fire, contact with degraded wiring can be fatal.Testing the safety switch on your switchboard will protect you from faulty wiring.
Our Services
You can find out more about the services that the Yarra Energy Foundation can offer on our website. These include:
- Feasibility studies
- Community Engagement
- Community battery strategies for local councils
- Consulting & advice
- Project management
- Solar & electrification programs
We have a small team of extremely passionate energy experts with decades of combined industry, governmental, business, and sustainability experience.
Yarra Energy Foundation acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung as the Traditional Owners of this country, pays tribute to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Yarra, and gives respect to the Elders past and present.