Firm Supply Forum – rethinking South ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥â€™s energy mix
7 December 2016
Premier Jay Weatherill opened the ARENA Firm Supply Forum at the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide on 7 December 2016, initiating robust and wide-ranging discussion on South ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥â€™s energy supply and energy security. The meeting highlighted the important future roles of solar thermal and energy storage technologies.
The event followed the severe storm event in South ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ on 28 September, during which transmission and distribution electricity assets were damaged and led to a statewide blackout. It preceded the Council of ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n Governments (COAG) on 9 December, at which Chief Scientist and AO Dr Alan Finkel presented his preliminary report to the .
The forum highlighted that a greater understanding of renewable energy technology in South ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ is needed. Which technologies should we focus on and invest in? How do we ensure they will meet our needs? Seventy people, including industry, researchers and policy-makers were in attendance.
At the cocktail function that evening, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy Tom Koutsantonis confirmed that the South ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n renewable energy sector was not to blame for the statewide power outage in September. The explains the causes of the outage on their website.