Totally Renewable Denmark members attended a workshop last month in Bridgetown for community renewable energy groups from regional and urban WA.

TRD has recently engaged a consultant to assist in an Action Plan with funding from the local Community Sustainable Living Fund.

The first priority will be community consultation with interested community members for a community forum early next year.

“The Denmark residents and Shire are already taking some inspiring steps and we can take even bolder actions together,” organiser Louise Duxbury said.

The purpose of the Bridgetown workshop was for each community initiative organisers to share their experience and knowledge of the issues they faced in trying to develop local renewable energy projects and infrastructure.

The groups shared insights into problems, and the successful solutions.

Two project examples that Totally Renewable Denmark brought to the discussion was Green Town Denmark Walpole, and the Denmark Community Windfarm Ltd.

The workshop was the inaugural meeting of CREATE Community Energy, a network of community groups which are driving local energy initiatives.

TRD is a foundation member of CREATE (Community Renewable Energy Alliance of Towns and Enterprises).

The alliance group is WA’s new peak body for community renewable energy, who advocate with government and key stakeholders.

By signing up to CREATE, TRD joins other towns in the South West which are pursuing local renewable distributed energy projects.

These include Augusta Margaret River Clean Community Energy, Bridgetown Energy Transition, Clever CLOGS of Pemberton, Geraldton Community Energy and Katanning Energy.

The alliance’s only urban member is the White Gum Valley Ecovillage.

TRD is a community initiative established early this year to achieve a minimum 100 per cent renewable energy production in all sectors in Denmark in five years, to become carbon positive in five years and to develop local employment and local investment in the RE industry. A team will canvas opportunities for these objectives.

The working group comprises Craig Chappelle (chair Denmark Community Windfarm Ltd), Paul Wilson (member Denmark Community Inc, Community Sustainable Living Fund), Louise Duxbury and Rhian Thomas (Green Skills Inc), Jennie Carey (community member), Kingsley Gibson (councillor Shire of Denmark), Nicole Hodgson (Murdoch University) and Bruce Manning (chair Great Southern Development Commission Board).

The Shire supports this initiative and has objectives in its Sustainability Strategy 2021-2031 and its Action Plan to lead and support Zero Carbon Energy community initiatives.

Students from Murdoch University and Curtin University will contribute to exploration of innovative options.

TRD founding members were involved in the Green Town Denmark Walpole project 2007- 2013.

This was a collaboration between Western Power, and the Denmark community and stakeholders to reduce peak energy demand, reduce overall energy use and emissions, generate Renewable Energy and provide jobs in Denmark.

The Denmark Community Windfarm was WA’s first community-owned energy project, with 116 investors.

The wind farm was a key stakeholder in the Green Town Denmark Walpole project and is an important part of TRD.

Wind farm sets pace for renewables

It started generating power in April 2013, and the two turbines produce 40-50 per cent of Denmark’s electricity.

The group has achieved excellent return and now can reinvest. It is exploring power storage options and options to install further renewable energy.

Information gathered at the workshop included issues relating to finance, regulation and legislation, community governance and decision making, and technical considerations, pointing to several similarities between the groups as well as experiences.

The responses will go into a report to government and key stakeholders. They will also help in a strategic plan for CREATE Community Energy, and a program for advocacy.

Louise said TRD would build economic development in Denmark and community resilience. “We look to a time when fringe-of-grid energy supply issues are of the past in Denmark and to working with the community about actions they have already taken and what they are thinking of doing next.” 

This article appeared in the Denmark Bulletin, 12 January 2023.