Community Energy Congress 2024

The Event, Days 1 & 2

The Community Energy Congress brings together advocates, practitioners and supporters of community energy working on a rapid and beneficial transition to renewable energy. Days 1 and 2 of the Congress will showcase inspiring examples of community energy projects and delve into strategic topics such as policy, benefit sharing, partnerships & finance, household & business transitions, community batteries and microgrids. This year the Congress is the official Community Partner of the Smart Energy Council’s Conference & Exhibition or Smart Energy Expo and will be running alongside an exciting array of solar, storage, electric vehicle and smart energy exhibitors at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Sydney. Attendees at the Congress will also need to register for the Expo prior to the event, which is free and gains entry to the precinct and Expo activities in addition to the Congress.

Theme

Our Congress theme in 2024 is Fast, Fair & Vital! There will be innovative thinkers, strategic and practical sessions, and round ups of the leading projects around the country, all focused on community energy’s critical role in the accelerating move to a renewables-based grid. Communities are leading conversations about energy futures, reflecting the:

• rapid pace of community and household transformation,
  
• community energy's core values of equity, affordability, resilience and shared benefits,
  
• and the essential nature of energy for our homes, businesses and communities.

Field Trip "Connections" Day 3

JUST ANNOUNCED! Join us for a Connections Day at Narara Ecovillage. Located just north of Gosford, Narara Ecovillage is one of the first communities in Australia to implement its own “Smart” microgrid – connecting ~60 homes with solar power and sharing a community battery. It is a beautiful intentional community demonstrating social, economic and environmental sustainability.

Spend time together, build your networks, access community energy expertise in the workshops and conversations, and enjoy tours of the smart grid, sustainable homes and village initiatives. The day will be fully catered with a vegetarian lunch, morning and afternoon tea, with locally sourced food. Drive or catch the train from Sydney to get there.

Remote Hubs & Online Tickets

JUST ANNOUNCED! Thanks to the support of the Victorian Government, we are pleased to offer the opportunity to experience the Congress in one of two other ways.

1. Find a regional hub (or get together to create your own) on Wednesday 6th March (DAY 1 only) and experience the Congress at a local community facility with other interested and enthusiastic people. Existing hubs are listed on the Congress Remote Hubs page with their contact details, and you can also find information and links on how to form your own hub. Keep checking the Remote Hubs page as more locations are added in the lead up to the Congress.
2. You can also watch the Congress on both days as we stream the sessions from the ICC. Participate in the online workshop on the 6th March (DAY 1) and interact with all sessions on both days via the online Q&A app. Details for the app will be available in updates and posted on the website prior to the event.

Ticket Costs

The Organiser and Host

The Coalition for Community Energy (C4CE) is the peak body for the community energy sector and is bringing you the Congress in 2024, with the support of the Smart Energy Council and the foundational work of the Community Power Agency.

The Program

Check out the Program outline below (updated 12/2/24) or on the Congress Program page (or download the PDF). As we're located within the Smart Energy Expo venue, you’ll also need to register for the Expo (free). We''ll send you a reminder before the event so you don't forget.

This is the sector’s defining event, one you don’t want to miss!