Energy Transition

Deep dive: How oil rig rehab is inspiring ‘nature positive’ wind farm design

It’s early days but new research – ironically coming out of the oil and gas sector – has given scientists hope that offshore wind structures could boost biodiversity by becoming artificial reefs, home to sponges, crustaceans, molluscs and...

Genevieve Swart

February 2025

Opinion

Community Energy Zones: Cheaper, more reliable power for all consumers

By Greg Knight, convenor of the Illawarra Branch of Renew At a presentation at the University of Wollongong on Thursday, February 19, I outlined how a Community Energy Zone (CEZ) could be implemented in the local area. A CEZ would function using...

Greg Knight

February 2025

Energy Transition

Early adopters: Don and Christina’s electrification journey

Thirroul residents, Don and Christina, were among the first ten households to join the Electrify 2515 Community Pilot—a program designed to help homeowners reduce energy use and electricity bills. Having already made significant efforts to upgrade...

Elsa Evers

February 2025

News

Diary of an EV Driver: Charging Away

We have had our MG4 for over a year now, and never charged it away from home. After all, we did buy it as our run-around car, not for road trips. A few of our friends were staying at Thredbo over Christmas (they are from the UK and like it cold for...

Peter Aubourg

February 2025

News

2515’s ‘lighthouse project’ shines path for communities across the nation

Rewiring Australia co-founder Dr Saul Griffith has long described Electrify 2515 as a “lighthouse project”, even before it was awarded $5.4 million from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) last October. Now the local pilot to electrify 500 homes is set to shine a path for the nation. “It’s a big, big moment for us,” said Electrify 2515 Community Pilot operations manager John Buchelin

Genevieve Swart

February 2025

Energy Transition

Y2K + 25 = the year we went all-electric

Is it seriously 2025? Just to confirm my age, it’s blowing my mind that we are a quarter of a century into the millennium when Y2K feels like yesterday. The good news is, 2515 residents are sprinting towards the future by hosting Australia’s...

Elsa Evers

January 2025

News

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

December 2024

News

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

December 2024

News

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

December 2024

News

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

December 2024

Opinion

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...

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...

Peter Aubourg

November 2024

News

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

November 2024

News

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

November 2024

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...

Jeremy Lasek

October 2024

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

October 2024

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...

Peter Aubourg

September 2024

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

September 2024

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

September 2024

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

September 2024

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

August 2024

Opinion

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

August 2024