This year's event will be held at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre on 10-11 October. Already more than 273 exhibitors have committed to be on hand, a nearly 20 percent increase over last year.
The conference is billed as a free-to-delegate, business-to-business event and networking forum held alongside an exhibition showcasing renewable energy, clean energy, sustainable transport and energy efficiency.
In a message to attendees published in the All-Energy Events newsletter, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard wrote, " Renewable energy is critical to the future of energy market reform and the future of Australia’s economic prosperity. That is why the All-Energy Conference is such an important event. It brings together people from a range of sectors, covering a range of issues that highlight how we can work together to secure a clean energy future and an efficient energy market."
According to Gillard, the energy sector is currently the primary source of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions and the nation's energy demand is expected to double by 2050.
Therefore, she wrote, "The development and deployment of clean energy technologies is essential for meeting Australia’s future energy needs while achieving Australia’s 2050 target of an 80 per cent reduction in greenhouse emissions on 2000 levels."
Gillard also noted the supports the Australian government is implementing to facilitate the transition to a clean energy future.
"As well as the Renewable Energy Target (RET), which will ensure that 20 percent of Australia’s electricity comes from renewable sources by 2020, we now have the carbon price, which provides a clear market signal to change the power generation mix to cut pollution and drive investment in renewable energy and low emissions technology," she wrote.
"Complementing this market signal are targeted investments to bring forward new technologies at as low a cost as possible," Gillard continued. "The Australian government provides support for clean energy research and development through initiatives under the Australian Research Council, the Cooperative Research Centres Program and the CSIRO. These initiatives drive collaboration with industry and government and focus on developing innovative, cost-competitive and efficient renewable energy and low-emissions technologies."
In addition, Gillard said, "the Australian Renewable Energy Agency will coordinate around $3.2 billion in existing grant funding programs supporting research, development and demonstration of renewable energy technologies."
The prime minister also noted the improving energy efficiency is also necessary for reducing carbon pollution.
"That is why the Australian government is supporting businesses and households to improve their energy efficiency and reduce their energy costs through a number of programs such as the Low Carbon Communities Program, the Clean Technology Program and the Energy Efficiency Opportunities Program. Through the National Strategy on Energy Efficiency, we are also ensuring there is a coordinated approach to improving energy efficiency across all sectors and jurisdictions."
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