Queensland will be the focus of sustainable energy awareness this week with the Ecogen 2011 conference opening yesterday (September 5).
Minister for energy and water utilities Stephen Robertson opened the event, which is supported by the Sustainable Energy Association of Australia (SEA).
It is hoped that the conference will raise further awareness of the benefits provided by solar panel systems in homes and businesses.
After the success of Ecogen 2010, organisers moved the event to Brisbane in order to cater for a bigger audience and more exhibitors.
A number of keynote speakers will talk at the event, including industry specialists from the solar sector.
Conference convenor Lucy Rochlin says: "As exhibition spaces sold out in 2010, we've expanded our capacity to accommodate as many clean energy businesses as possible who are seeking to position themselves at the forefront of the industry."
Speeches will cover a wide variety of topics, from geothermal energy to wind power and solar photovoltaic systems.
Visitors can also attend the exhibitor's floor with companies from all over Australia coming to showcase new products and developments in sustainable energy.
The conference brings together a huge number of renewable energy companies, all working towards a future where Australia is less reliant on fossil fuels.
SEA intends for the event to showcase a viable resource future, using its status as the peak body in the sustainable energy industry to advocate large-scale change.
In his opening address, minister Robertson highlighted the developments of Queensland in recent years regarding the widespread adoption of sustainable energy systems.
He pledged continued support to the Office of Clean Energy and the Queensland Renewable Energy Plan (QREP) – in addition to support for domestic and commercial solar applications across the state.
The sunshine state recently met its solar energy target a full three years ahead of schedule.
According to Robertson, more than 107,000 households are currently participating in the state's feed-in tariff.
A revised QREP will be released later in 2011 in response to the overwhelmingly positive response from the general population.
SEA's chief executive, Professor Ray Willis says: "As the nation with the world's best renewable energy resources continues to lurch through policy valleys of death, all Australian governments need to become even more ambitious in the support for renewable energy generation."
"Other Australian governments would do well to look to the Queensland approach to policy for renewable energy," he asserts.
By Mike Peacock – Solar Correspondent