ARENA to fund regional renewables initiative

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced $305,000 funding for a $743,000 partnership to strengthen the South East Region of Renewable Energy Excellence (SERREE) initiative. The initiative brings together a collaborative network of renewable energy stakeholders representing the south-east NSW-ACT region, facilitating links to build and guide the momentum of the region’s burgeoning renewable energy sector.

ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht, who launched the project in Canberra today, said SERREE will establish a Regional Renewable Energy Industry Cluster in the south-east region, forming a model that could be adopted by other regions. He noted, “There is a wealth of renewable energy projects throughout south-east NSW and the ACT, making it an ideal place to trial a regional approach to knowledge sharing and skills building.”

Regional Development Australia ACT (RDA ACT) has led the SERREE initiative over the past three years, with the support of its funding partners. Frischknecht said the initiative has so far engaged a broad range of stakeholders, noting, “More than 450 network members have participated in the collaboration to date, ranging from government and research institutions through to international project development organisations.”

Frischknecht described SERREE as “a valuable initiative that identifies renewable energy business opportunities, holds forums and provides resources to a growing membership”. He said the ACT and NSW governments are partnering with ARENA to support the project - providing $60,000 and $120,000 in funding respectively - along with key renewable energy industry stakeholders.

As the project continues across the next three years, Frischknecht claimed, “The expanding network will establish a best-practice framework to encourage other regions to adopt a similar approach to excellence in renewables.”