19 November 2017

Experience the power of renewable energy on the REtrail

| Ruwendi Wakwella

Grow, strengthen, and contribute to sustainability by joining the REtrail.

Climate Change is a leading issue in the 21st century. As technology develops and our society evolves, wouldn’t you like to see what your government is doing to keep your environment clean and sustainable for our future generations?

The Renewable Energy Trail is a journey that explores the new energy technologies that are paving the way to an even bigger, brighter future for the ACT and its surrounding south east NSW region.

A Day on the Renewable Energy Trail tells the story of how our region is using its particular strengths to grow, strengthen and contribute to sustainability. Everyone is welcomed on this trail; families, interest groups, even the young and the old.

On Saturday, 25 November, join one of two guided bus tours to visit renewable energy sites throughout the ACT and south east NSW region. NSW tour sites include the iconic Woodlawn Wind Farm overlooking Lake George and Veolia’s Woodlawn Bioreactor – one of the world’s largest landfill gas-to-energy projects. The ACT tour includes visits to the ANU’s Big Dish – the world’s largest parabolic solar thermal dish concentrator; and ITP Renewables’ Lithium-Ion Battery Test Centre – a world-leading battery performance testing laboratory.

Renewable Energy Day tours start at 9.00 am with the ACT tour departing from Canberra City and the NSW tour departing from Queanbeyan. Both tours include travel to and from the sites, a guided tour of the facility, morning tea and lunch, and unprecedented access to some of the world’s most exciting and innovative renewable energy technologies.

A highlight of the ACT tour includes a visit to the Mugga Lane Solar Park – one of the four solar farms along the region’s solar highway and the largest agriculturally-integrated solar farm in Australia.

The NSW tour offers a regional food and wine experience with a visit to Contentious Character – one of the region’s top wineries… without contention! In the ACT we’ll lunch at the sustainable Ginninderry Link building set within a rural backdrop.

The Renewable Energy Trail is a celebration of this region’s renewable energy excellence, including both the wealth of our natural resources to support the industry and the ACT Government policy, on track to meet an outstanding 100% by 2020 renewable electricity target. The NSW Government is also currently exploring new ways to respond to a changing climate by investing through a new $1.4 billion Climate Change Fund.

Renewable Energy Day and the development of the Renewable Energy Trail are initiatives of Regional Development Australia ACT under its SERREE (South East Region of Renewable Energy Excellence) initiative. These are not solely investments into the sustainability of our world, but also a new way to promote regional economic development. Facilitating the development of the renewable energy industry in our region supports new local jobs, the growth of business and regional investment. The Trail itself additionally supports regional tourism and education – suggesting to students the possibility of a future career in the renewables industry.

Renewable Energy Trail sites display new interpretive signage that is immediately recognisable to visitors and provides information about each of the sites, and its technology. Each REtrail sign includes links back to the SERREE website where a wealth of information is provided for those interested in learning more.

The REtrail would not be possible if not for the on-going support of the renewable energy industry, particularly those opening their sites for REday 2017, as well as ARENA, the ACT and NSW Governments for their support of SERREE initiatives.

For more information, or to book a tour, visit the SERREE website.

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