The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) reported this week about their plans to help finance the Business Renewables Centre Australia. ARENA describes the BRCA as “a resource centre and an online marketplace platform designed to accelerate the purchase of renewable energy by Australian business.”
There is a particular need for this in Australian, where businesses are falling behind other countries where solar has become the norm.
What is the Business Renewables Centre Australia?
The BRCA has been modeled on the USA’s Rocky Mountain Institute Business Renewables Centre, so the idea is tried and tested.
ARENA claims the BRCA project will “make it easier for Australian corporates and local councils to purchase or procure renewable energy through corporate Power Purchase Agreements.”
It will achieve this by providing resources, access to a network of energy buyers and project developers, inexpensive training and information on power purchase agreements.
The BRCA will predominantly be an online resource centre and marketplace. There will also be BRCA events for industry members.
Who is funding the Business Renewables Centre Australia?
ARENA will be providing $500,000 on behalf of the Australian Government. This funding will go to three groups who will lead the project: Climate-KIC Australia, WWF-Australia and UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures.
The project will amount to a total of $1.74 million.
“There’s a lot of interest in renewable energy PPAs, but they’re new to Australia and the key decision-makers often lack the information they need. We will be applying a model that’s been successful in the US to give companies the tools and resources they need to make the shift to renewable energy.”
– Professor Stuart White, Director of the UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures
Would you choose renewable over non-renewable?
As a consumer, would you prefer to purchase products from a business running on renewable energy? Let us know in the comments and on our social pages.
You’ll find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Read ARENA’s announcement here.
Solar Trust Centre Team
