CCCE presentation by Joachim Muller

Agenda Situation of CCCE History Projects Lessons learned Report from Congress last week in Canberra Signs of hope Solar cost calculator Is solar PV worth it?

Location: C entral C oast What we do: C ommunity E nergy Legal definition: Association Incorporated Incorporated: 27 th of August 2012 Purpose: to power the Central Coast with community owned renewable energy. Establish a co-operative Negotiate discounts … on behalf of its members Educate members and the public on renewable energy Liaise with stakeholders and foster community engagement CCCE presentation by Joachim Muller

What is Community Energy ? Community ownership of renewable energy production Bridging the gap between individual and large-scale installations Financial benefits stay in the community Public acceptance Community empowerment Educational benefits Small projects can lead to larger ones CCCE presentation by Joachim Muller

CCCE History Established as incorporated association nearly two years ago First members mainly from friendly local environment groups and Greens Within ½ year 70 members (poor renewal, now in the second year just 35!) 150 on list (now 200) Received $2000 donation from local environmental group (PEG) Received $50,000 grant from OEH in June 2013 Grant project Received financial and tax advice Received legal advice Documentation for establishment of co-op is nearly ready Engaged with Gosford City Council and other potential clients/hosts Created financial model Engagement with community CCCE presentation by Joachim Muller

CCCE Strategy Interested in all kinds of mature renewable energy systems Starting with solar PV because it appears to be the fastest and easiest to establish Engage with community and promote renewable energy Do something which has a tangible outcome Establish a co-op and own renewable energy system Organise bulk buy for members Main initial priority: Project with local Council CCCE presentation by Joachim Muller

CCCE Activities Committee (7 members) meets every two to 6 weeks Website: Facebook site Newsletter Press releases – most successful activity for us Stalls at local events (about 20) Various talks (about CCCE, solar PV, electricity cost, Climate Change) Grant project with OEH Working with various advisers Contact with other community energy groups and stake holders Engagement with local eco village (Narara Eco Village) Members attended various solar conferences, exhibitions, talks, training sessions Developed financial model For community energy with PV For domestic PV For energy saving Contacts with potential clients Started to investigate Bio Gas CCCE presentation by Joachim Muller

CCCE potential Projects Our initial plan to work with Gosford council has ‘failed’ Council suggested to form PPP Agreed on possible project: Leisure Centre, up to 300kW Made proposal to Council, PPA of 22 cent/kWh Reply: Council will do it alone, at levelised cost of 9 cent/kWh We could offer a 100 kW PV system to a local company but have not so because our relative high fixed costs are driving price of electricity up Discussions with other potential clients have not resulted in a project local Fire Brigade: many very small systems One place: did 100kW solar PV by themselves because of depreciation Wyong Council: small project (30kW appeared possible, but we were not yet willing and ready) Planning to talk to local Clubs We need total installations of >300kW to offer attractive PPA Long term plan for bio gas and wind energy CCCE presentation by Joachim Muller

CCCE Project Structure CCCE presentation by Joachim Muller

CCCE Lessons learned Easy to start when using network of friendly organisations Committee (7 members) meets every 2 to 6 weeks – but not much work gets done if most members have a full time job and family Steep learning curve with so many different areas to know about Social media, website Press releases Running an association / a co-op Engaging with, recruiting and keeping members Technology Dealing with Council Talking with clients and stake holders Accounting Financial modelling Dealing with a volunteer organisation/Group dynamics Managing a grant project Finding money is a problem, but it also a problem, when receiving a grant Advisers rarely hold your hand. They only give answers to your questions Costs for consultants are shocking CCCE presentation by Joachim Muller

CCCE Problems Catch 22: No project without finance (e.g. by established co-op) No co-op without secured project High annual cost of co-op (fees, insurance, administration, part time staff) (about $24,000) make electricity price (PPA) for clients unattractive Lack of feed-in tariff makes projects so much harder Volunteer organisations are slow and difficult to manage Getting things done The RET may collapse, making projects unviable Problems of retaining members as long as we cannot offer anything Members of association are not the same as members of the co-op Transition from association to co-op (at the moment on stand-by) CCCE presentation by Joachim Muller

CCCE our dream (but rather solar than wind) CC Hepburn Wind, flickr CCCE presentation by Joachim Muller

Easy to start when using network of friendly organisations CCCE presentation by Joachim Muller About 350 participants Mainly volunteers Strong support from Office of Environment and Heritage

Congress report (1) Great organisation, >300 participants, 2 ½ days - a real buzz 45 community groups around Australia similar to CCCE. Two operable – Hepburn Wind in Victoria and Denmark wind in WA. Meir of German village presented village with 300% renewable energy supply Renewable energy as part of a regional development - environmental, economic and social benefit. Community engagement does take time, but can be a catalyst Initiated collaboration in various groups The ACT Government: new renewable electricity consumption target of 90% renewables by 2020 (NSW 20% target) Great presentation by Rob Stokes, our minister for the Central Coast CCCE presentation by Joachim Muller

Feed in tariff 20 cent/kWh For community energy Capped at 1000 kW

CCCE presentation by Joachim Muller Talk Rob Stokes

Congress report (2) Problems: RET – will it survive ARENA – hanging on a shoe string Solutions: Feed-in tariff, Virtual Net Metering Different funding models available – grants, loans, crowd-funding, philanthropy CCCE presentation by Joachim Muller

CCCE our dream (but rather solar than wind) CC Hepburn Wind, flickr CCCE presentation by Joachim Muller