AUSTRALIA can meet its power demands using 100 per cent renewable energy within 10 years, according to a civil engineer turned researcher and volunteer who will be talking in Ballarat this week.
On the back of a successful design business in London, Peter Castaldo has given up his day job to volunteer full-time for environmental group Beyond Zero Emissions.
But part of his research for the organisation is communicating his findings to the public, which is why Mr Castaldo will be visiting Ballarat on Thursday.
Mr Castaldo says wind power and concentrated solar thermal plants with storage are key to implementing the ambitious plan.
“It’s available, it’s operating and it’s deployed commercially around the world,” he said.
“We’ve got all the technology, we just need to put it all together.”
Mr Castaldo said BZE was looking at “big picture” solutions to climate change, like making serious moves into renewables.
“We’re a research and communication organisation that’s trying to tell people we can go 100 per cent renewable and we can respond to climate change, and this plan is one possible solution to de-carbonising the grid and our economy,” he said.
“We’re looking at big picture stuff so we can put pressure on the government and say ‘we want it, we know it exists, lets start doing something about it’.”
The forum, organised by local group BREAZE, will be held at the Brewery Theatre at the University of Ballarat’s SMB campus on Thursday at 6pm. Entry is a gold coin donation.