Environmental Industries

Environment management and related services is a growing activity in Canberra, and throughout Australia.

Canberra’s capabilities are derived from the presence of key national research institutions and a growing number of private firms specialising in environmental management and service delivery.

The major players include:

  • The Australian National University's Climate Change Institute
  • The Cooperative Research Centres for Greenhouse Gas Technologies and e-Water
  • The commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisations's (CSIRO) Canberra based capabilities in atmospheric research, land and water, plant phenomics, and sustainable ecosystems

The $A100milliion Australian Solar Institute also has active involvement in Canberra based renewable energy research.

Building on the environment-based research and development undertaken in Canberra, private firms specialising in consulting services and enabling technologies have expanded into global markets.

The ACT Government is committed to a greenhouse gas reduction target of zero net emissions by 2060.  The Government is pursuing a range of initiatives including the establishment of new solar generating capacity.

ActewAGL, Canberra's electricity, natural gas, water and wastewater provider, is supporting Better Place, a leading electric vehicle service provider, to deploy its infrastructure throughout the ACT.  Better Place is seeking to have electric car recharge points set up in homes, workplaces and shopping centres in the ACT by 2012.

The ACT Government is also committed to improving the energy efficiency of buildings in Canberra as part of a national scheme commencing in 2010 which will require commercial building owners to provide up to date energy efficiency information when they sell or lease office space.

The ACT has led the way in Australia with the early introduction of mandatory disclosure of energy efficiency for residential homes.

Environmentally conscious businesses can also leverage a range of Government initiatives, including:

  • The ACT Electricity Feed-In Tariff Scheme rewards ACT residents and organisations that install renewable energy generation technology.
  • The Commercial Bathroom Retrofit program that provides building owners with a financial incentive to improve water efficiency.
  • The BusinessSmart Program to assist businesses introduce efficient recycling and waste management practices.
  • CitySwitch Green Office, which encourages Canberra's businesses to model exemplary behaviour in saving energy.
  • The HEAT Energy Audit which provides home energy advice and rebates.
Case Study: Windlab

Windlab is a global wind energy development company established in Canberra in 2003 following a decade long research program at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).

CSIRO scientists joined experienced people from the wind industry to bring the company to fruition. Windlab's world leading wind mapping technology (Windscpae and RaptorNL) and its team of expert engineers, scientists and project managers have assisted clients and partners to remotely locate, validate and develop highly prospective sites rapidly.  Windlab has also assisted governments in promoting wind power through the production of wind atlases.

Windlab's experienced team has been instrumental in shaping the modern wind energy industry. It is focused on producing and applying technology that makes a real and immediate impact on the wind industry. Windlab is investing in leading edge research and development and, through integrating technology into the development process, is realising large scale projects that have significant environmental benefits.

The past few years have seen exceptional growth for the company and its success in progressing commercially viable sites is reflected in its growing portfolio of projects spanning Canada, the US, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

In 2009, the company was proud to be among the nation's fastest growing companies for the second year in succession after being named in Business Review Weekly's Fast 100.

For further information contact:
www.windlab.com
www.environment.act.gov.au
www.business.act.gov.au

Phone Canberra Connect:
1800 244 650 (Australia)
+61 13 22 81 (International)