Energy Transition

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© 2024 The Illawarra Flame

Energy Transition

Speaking to power

The University of Wollongong’s Ty Christopher has a cost-cutting clean energy message he says we should be “screaming from the rooftops”. It’s been lost as election-bound politicians debate our electricity mix decades into the future and the...

Genevieve Swart

From volunteer to pilot manager: John Buchelin shares an electrifying journey

John Buchelin started out as an Electrify 2515 volunteer, letterboxing flyers on local streets with his daughter after soccer practice. Two years on, he’s the operations manager for the new community pilot, a partnership by non-profit Rewiring...

Genevieve Swart

City celebrates rise of Green Gravity in Wollongong

Elon Musk’s Tesla home batteries beware – there’s a new, cheaper and more sustainable way of storing rooftop solar on the rise, and it’s made in Wollongong. “At Green Gravity, we are an energy storage developer and we’ve developed...

Genevieve Swart

Electrify 2515 Community Pilot: Locals share their views

After 600 people packed into Anita’s Theatre for Electrify 2515’s Community Pilot launch on Sunday, November 10. After the offical speeches by Dr Saul Griffith, pilot leaders and an audience Q&A, local residents shared their thoughts. Courtney...

The Illawarra Flame

Electrify 2515: A postcard from the future

By Dr Saul Griffith, co-founder of Rewiring Australia We’re at a critical juncture in history. Global politics is wobbling. Leaders and global markets are trying to find their feet with the re-election of Donald Trump. Many commentators are...

Dr Saul Griffith

Motoring & Property

Diary of an EV Driver: Watt about Horsepower

Like today, back in the 1780s there was a change in the way machines were being powered. Then it was from horse power to steam power, for driving pumps to take water out of mines. Young James Watt had trouble convincing industrialists that his steam...

New rock stars: Electrification gig plays to packed house at Anita’s

Sunday afternoon’s home electrification session at Anita’s Theatre was a hit, enjoying a turnout rock stars would envy at Thirroul’s live music venue. About 600 people attended yesterday’s launch of the Electrify 2515 Community Pilot, a two-year...

Genevieve Swart

Good Neighbours become good friends

A retired coal miner and a young mum with a background in the creative arts have cemented an unlikely friendship after starring in an episode of Good Neighbours, hosted by Ryan Moloney (aka ‘Toadie’ in Neighbours). Wollongong locals Darryl Best...

Genevieve Swart

Energy Transition

Northern Illawarra chosen for nationwide pilot project to champion mass electrification of homes

“When a community’s all in, I want to be all in to help that community.” With those few words federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen on Tuesday announced a groundbreaking pilot to electrify 500 homes in northern Illawarr...

Science & Nature

For the birds: Why wind research should be shared

Offshore wind farms might affect seabirds. But we don’t know how much or what to do about it. And if Australians don’t fight for their right to know, then the unique environmental data gathered during feasibility research could remain the...

Genevieve Swart

Energy Transition

Range Anxiety – It’s Just Different

Part 9 in Peter Aubourg’s Diary of an EV Driver I am convinced that range anxiety is something you have before you buy an EV. Or at least before the first week of owning an EV. I had range anxiety on day one when I drove out of the showroom with...

Energy Transition

Rooftop solar: UOW energy expert slams ‘enthusiastic but naive’ book

Wollongong City Council independent candidate Suzanne de Vive, who ran on a proposal for an entirely solar-powered state, has had the least support from voters, with the Ward 1 business coach receiving 4.55% of the mayoral vote at press time on...

Genevieve Swart

Energy Transition

Electrifying event in Corrimal this Thursday

Find out how to cut costs and support clean energy when Nature Conservation Council NSW and Rewiring Australia host a free electrifying event at Corrimal Community Centre this Thursday from 5.30-7.30pm.

Genevieve Swart

Energy Transition

Tradies: Heroes of our Homes

When we think of professionals acting on climate change, we may think of scientists or policymakers. But it is our local plumbers, electricians and air conditioner installers who are some of the true heroes of the energy transition. They’re the...

Kristen McDonald

Energy Transition

Green v Green: The new face of environmental debate

We love the ocean in the Illawarra. Its rhythm is woven into everything from early surfs to evening dog walks. On wild days, we gather on headlands to watch breakers roll in; on sunny ones, we bliss out overlooking a calm blue expanse. These shared...

Genevieve Swart

Energy Explained: How to bring everyone along in the clean energy revolution

Ty Christopher, Director of the Energy Futures Network at the University of Wollongong, discusses ways to combat energy poverty and boost the economy, all while reducing the world’s carbon footprint. Electrifying everything – at the moment, it...

Genevieve Swart

Energy Transition

Why a young marine ecologist was inspired to write about offshore wind

Last week a young Port Kembla scientist was celebrating a major achievement: having her first article published in Renew Economy, the national clean energy news website. Phebe Fidge is a 26-year-old marine ecologist and her piece was titled: I’m...

Genevieve Swart

Energy transition

Are EVs better for the planet?

We’d only had our EV for a week or so when someone said to me that EVs are worse for the environment because of the embedded emissions of the battery. So, as an engineer, I was curious to find out the facts. The easiest way to judge this is to...

Energy transition

‘So much talent and potential’: Beyond Zero Emissions CEO rates the Gong after Clean Tech Tour

On July 3, Hi Neighbour volunteer Darryl Best organised a special tour of the Port Kembla steelworks to welcome a clean economy celebrity to Wollongong. Afterwards, Heidi Lee, CEO of independent think tank Beyond Zero Emissions, said she saw “so...

Genevieve Swart

Energy Transition

Energy Explained: Why should we ‘electrify everything’?

Ty Christopher, Director of the Energy Futures Network at the University of Wollongong, shares his thoughts on calls to ‘electrify everything’ by Rewiring Australia, the organisation started by Austinmer engineer Dr Saul Griffith. Do you support...

Genevieve Swart

Energy transition

Energy Explained: How much power can solar actually deliver?

Ty Christopher, Director of the Energy Futures Network at the University of Wollongong, explains some fundamental laws of physics and why solar has its limits. What percentage of the grid can solar realistically provide? That is difficult to answer...

Genevieve Swart

Energy Explained: Why restructuring the market may save you money

Last week, Ty Christopher, Director of the Energy Futures Network at the University of Wollongong, explained how, thanks to the people’s rooftop solar revolution, he believes energy regulations are no longer fit for purpose. This week, he calls...

Genevieve Swart

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