News items 2014 – 2017 – Totally Renewable Yackandandah

Take a look at what TRY was up to in our early years, including our launch, early collaborations and partnerships, the seminal Yack Health project, and a few media articles. Not to mention the quirky Golden Yak awards to local champions of renewable energy.

20 December 2017
A good song reminds us what we are fighting for!

Musician and former Goanna frontman Shane Howard has released a new song about the inspiring work being done by Totally Renewable Yackandandah. His song reminds us of the power of community and how it is possible to build a better future.

All proceeds from the song go toward a fund helping Yackandandah to reach 100% renewable energy. Read this short article on Shane Howard’s website for the story behind the song.

Have a listen, download the song today, and help empower local community to make a difference.

“TRY is an anthem for optimism, determination and hope.” – Shane Howard

1 November 2017
TRY wins national Banksia Foundation environment award.

Totally Renewable Yackandandah was presented with the Banksia Foundation’s Sustainable and Resilient Communities award at a ceremony in Sydney on Wednesday, 1 November 2017.

The Banksia Foundation collaborates with government, business and community to promote sustainable solutions, and acknowledges sustainability excellence.

6 September 2017
Yack to the future! An article on TRY in ARENAwire.

Check out this article on TRY by journalist Neelima Choahan in the news feed of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, ARENAwire.

It tells how TRY really got started and some local residents get a mention!

“It’s just that sense of community and knowing we are contributing to something bigger rather than just being the only people in the whole town community with solar panels on our roof. That we are helping to drive towards a community goal – it is the power of numbers.” – Donna Jones

25 March 2017
Chris and Karen receive a Golden Yak award.

Chris Horton and Karen Dodds received their Golden Yak, in the dark, in front of a packed audience at Earth Hour during the Yackandandah Folk Festival. Chris and Karen were recognised as being Solar Super Champions.

Theirs was a Festival romance – they met at Yack Folk Festival by chance and the following year they married on the Friday of the Festival in 2009. They then built a house together and went off grid. They’ve been living happily off grid for 8 years.

What a powerful inspiration!

4 March 2017
Ben McGowan talks to ABC Goulburn Murray

Ben McGowan from TRY talks to Joseph Thomsen on ABC Goulburn Murray radio about Yackandandah’s energy future.

1 March 2017
Yack mini grid future

Last month Totally Renewable Yackandandah invited AusNet Services to talk about a shared goal, to develop one of Australia’s first commercially operated mini grids here in Yackandandah.

A mini grid is an energy system in which a group of households are equipped with individual energy generation (solar panels) and storage capability (a battery). As a mini grid, this group can function as a unified energy community through the use of technology such as wireless communications, cloud-based software platforms and home energy management systems.

For TRY Co-chair Matt Grogan the launch was the culmination of three years of planning and hard work.

“We started TRY in 2014 and have been working hard to develop a plan for Yackandandah that the whole community can be a part of. It’s exciting to be able to show off the very latest in renewable energy technology right here in Yackandandah.”

28 February 2017
Another Golden Yak award!

Congratulations to Jill and Richard Whitford on receiving their well deserved Golden Yak for their long support of solar and intention to continue investing in renewable energy in the future. TRY thanks you for your active support towards Yackandandah reaching 100% renewables. Enjoy your Yak!!

20 February 2017
A Golden Yak awarded to Linda!

TRY was thrilled to award local resident Linda Fish a Golden Yak for her household being an early adopter of solar in Yackandandah. Congratulations Linda and Neil!

11 February 2017
A mini grid plan

Moving towards 100 per cent renewable energy.

What a fantastic effort! Despite the 40-degree heat around 250 people showed up for two meetings on February 9, to discuss Yackandandah’s shift to 100 per cent renewable energy.

They heard how we can achieve our clean energy target by taking advantage of the very low current cost of solar, the plummeting price of batteries and the availability of smart energy technology.

We also discussed some of the exciting opportunities this situation will open up for Yack residents and businesses.

As you may know, Yack residents, in partnership with AusNet Services and it’s commercial arm, Mondo Power, are working to establish Australia’s first commercial mini grid.

So how do we go about this?

To create a mini grid, each participating household is first equipped with the means to generate energy (i.e. solar panels), store it (a battery) and manage it (a smart energy controller).

This step alone offers advantages in that solar energy can be captured and stored, rather than used only when it is being generated. The smart energy management system greatly improves efficiency and reduces waste, which means lower bills.

The actual mini grid is formed when all the participating houses (equipped with solar, battery and ‘smarts’) are linked by a communications and control platform to form a unified energy system.

This gives even more benefits, like further savings on power bills, the ability to share power with each other and the ability to operate during network black outs.

And the large-scale use and storage of clean solar power means big reductions in carbon emissions.

The February 9 meeting described the nuts and bolts of the plan to reach 100 per cent renewables.

The first step is to get as many Yack residents ‘battery ready’ as possible, through a bulk purchase of high-quality solar panels and the addition of Mondo Power’s smart home energy management unit, called the Ubi.

With battery prices falling sharply, Yack residents will then be advised of the right time, in terms of value for money, to add a battery to their system. This will depend on the individual’s energy use.

Why did I mention ‘high-quality’ solar panels? The mini grid is designed to operate for decades, so no cheap stuff is allowed in this project.

Starting in early March, those who have expressed interest in the bulk purchase will be contacted by a local solar expert to arrange a property visit and discussion.

The best news is that expressions of interest can be still lodged up until Friday 31st March. Info packs can be picked up at YCDCo. Or, if you email TRY: [email protected] we can email you electronic versions.

Yack has already shown itself to be nimble adopters of energy innovation in the form of YCDCo. Can we achieve the same thing with electricity?

If we get enough people involved in the Yackandandah Mini Grid project, all sorts of things are possible. Imagine sharing power, no more blackouts and running electric vehicles.

And perhaps even starting our own community energy retailer, which can mean full control over electricity rates, and putting some money back into the community.

9 February 2017
Yackandandah Folk Festival Partnership

The renowned Yackandandah Folk Festival (YFF) is again in partnership with Totally Renewable Yackandandah (TRY). What does this mean? It means that TRY is contributing to the festival by promoting the event (24-26 March) and by having a new look at rubbish. We are determined this year to effectively manage the waste stream generated by the festival even more effectively. We are sorting the festival waste streams so that recycling and composting are maximised and land fill is minimised. We’d love you to be involved!

Buy a ticket to the fantastic festival – this year is a special celebration because the Festival is 20 years old. Tickets can be purchased on the website yackfolkfestival.com

Join the enthusiastic volunteers for our Green Team to help us over the festival weekend to make this happen. Please give us a few hours of your time by volunteering for the Green Team on the festival website.

2016

27 October 2016
Golden Yak award!

For John and Jenny Donnelly, neighbour Harvey Ballentine receives a TRY Golden Yak on their behalf at the Star Hotel. The Donnelly’s were recognised for being solar champions who installed solar early on, and have energy efficient lightbulbs and insulation. In addition they are helping the Football and Netball Club move towards sustainable energy.

Congratulations John and Jenny!

23 April 2016
Totally Renewable Yackandandah fundraiser – ‘Joining the Dots on renewable energy’

Totally Renewable Yackandandah are excited to announce that Dr John Hewson (former leader of the Liberal Party) will be speaking at a fundraiser on April 23rd to support a goal for Yackandandah to switch to 100% renewable electricity by the year 2022.

Dr Hewson has developed a strong personal and professional commitment to investigating and embracing dramatic cuts in energy use and a rapid transition to renewable energy. Hewson will report on the Paris Climate Conference, and offer key insights into the transformative economic and environmental opportunities of community renewable energy.

At the same time, iconic Australian musician / songwriter Shane Howard (formerly lead singer of the band Goanna) will support TRY’s ambitious fund raising endeavors. Shane is well known for his commitment and passion toward the Australian landscape, people and spirit and the need to balance our resource use with sustainable behaviours. Local musician Sal Kimber will perform alongside Shane and offer her rich sense of the preciousness of the north east.

Funds raised will contribute to the TRY’s ‘Perpetual Energy Fund,’ to directly inject capital into community energy efficiency and renewable projects on community buildings.

The event will be held at the Yackandandah Memorial Hall on Saturday 23 April 2016, commencing at 7 pm. Light refreshments and Bar will be available.

25 February 2016
Yackandandah Health Solar Installation

Yackandandah Health is the latest community service to join a clean energy revolution taking place in country Victoria.

Today’s connection of a 90 kW solar installation at the Yackandandah Health Service (YHS) will save the community-owned service $1 million over the next 25 years, reducing its annual greenhouse gas emissions by 115 tonnes – the equivalent of taking 23 cars permanently off the road.

We’re celebrating the new solar installation on Friday 26th February at 10:00 am. Indigo Shire Mayor, James Trenery, will cut the ribbon for what is a significant solar installation. TRY Yackandandah will be presenting YHS with a Solar Champion Golden YAK Award.

This is a milestone in the goal of making Yackandandah 100% renewable and is a celebration of a community working together. …read more

10 February 2016
Rubbish? A sustainable approach at the Yackandandah Folk Festival

Yackandandah Folk Festival, 18 March 2016, has a reputation for great music and community vibe. It is also gaining a reputation for sustainable practices. This year the festival is sharing profits with Totally Renewable Yackandandah (TRY) for their community Perpetual Energy Fund.

TRY is forming a Green Team of volunteers to handle the drinking water points, recycling and rubbish for the festival; and TRY is asking for your help.

You can help by:

Volunteering to work on the Green Team
Buying a ticket to the festival

So give yourself a treat and have a great weekend of music while helping a community to achieve their aspiration of becoming totally renewable by 2022!

2015

16 December 2015
Yackandandah Attitudes to ‘100% Renewable Energy’

At the end of 2014, TRY was successful in winning a grant from Charles Sturt University (CSU). The $2,250 funding was offered to investigate an area of interest within TRY and our goal to power the town with 100% renewable electricity.

The project was primarily based on interviews conducted with people from a diverse range of interest groups in Yackandandah – you can find the report here. Photographed are researcher Leah Ginnivan (L) and CSU advisor Dr. Jo Millar (R). Special thanks to Leah, researcher Tom Stayer, and Dr. Millar, and the 26 people interviewed for the project.

21 October 2015
A conversation with Tim Flannery

In September, TRY members Matt Grogan and Tamsin Greenwood met with Professor Tim Flannery, chief councillor of the Climate Council, prior to his talk at Albury’s 2015 Write Around the Murray festival. They discussed all things environmental as well as TRY’s goal to power Yackandandah completely with renewable energy by 2022. Tim supports TRY’s goal and is looking forward to seeing more towns in Australia follow Yackandandah’s lead.

7 September 2015
Yackandandah Health steps into a brighter future: Community Sustainable Energy Project

TRY is partnering Yackandandah Health on a key intiative incorporating dramatic reductions in power usage and installation of 90-kW solar panels. …read more

31 August 2015
TRY Inaugural AGM

Totally Renewable Yackandandah’s Inaugural Annual General Meeting took place on the 7th of July. Have a look at our President’s Report to see our upcoming plans.