Net Zero Economy Authority

🌿 A smarter way to grow Indigenous-owned Booma Food Group is leading the way in sustainable agriculture, investing in the future of the #Hunter with cutting-edge, climate-resilient #FoodProduction. Using high-tech #VerticalFarming in Cubic Farms’ containers, Booma grows fresh produce, year-round, in a controlled environment. 🌱 They focus on leafy vegetables, including herbs, micro-greens and lettuce. Benefits include: ✔ no need for pesticides ✔ 95% less water ✔ 100 times less land than traditional farming. The system is designed for maximum efficiency, reducing emissions while ensuring food security, drought resilience, and local job creation. By embracing renewable energy and land regeneration practices, Booma is not only cutting emissions but also creating more than 15 local jobs and supporting #FirstNations leadership in the transition to a net zero economy. Through accredited training and strong partnerships with Indigenous and industry groups, CSIRO and the University of Newcastle, Booma is nurturing talent and driving innovation in sustainable agriculture. Founder and CEO Cory Robertson sees this as the future of farming. One that responds to: ✔ climate change ✔ evolving markets ✔ decarbonisation. At the same time, Booma is staying true to First Nations principles of caring for Country. ☀🌱🤝 ‘We are dedicated to keeping our technology and growing ecosystems in the hands of Aboriginal businesses and people,' says Robertson. 👉 Read more about Booma Foods impact in the Hunter Region: http://srkr.io/6046wfm. CubicFarm Systems Corp. #NetZero #HunterTransformation #Diversification #Innovation #NetZero #SustainableFarming #EmissionReduction #FoodSupply #Resilience #NewJobs #LocalJobs #Australian #Regions #FirstNationsLeadership First Nations Clean Energy Network

👋 See you at the Gladstone Engineering Alliance! Our very own Josh Cosgrave is speaking at the GEA Workforce for the Future Breakfast in Gladstone. Josh will be talking about the work of the NZEA and how we are seeking to support the #Gladstone and #CentralQueensland region as it transitions to net zero. We look forward to seeing GEA members there. In the meantime, have a great weekend ahead. 🎉 👉 Visit http://srkr.io/6048w48. #IndustryBreakfast #IndustryUpdates #GladstoneRegion #WorkforcefortheFuture #NetZero Orica Alpha Sapphire CQUniversity

☀🌱 Clean Energy in Central Queensland Dr. Michael Opolot, a research fellow at CQUniversity’s Centre for Hydrogen and Renewable Energy, sees a bright future in #CleanEnergy. He’s excited about the opportunities emerging from the clean energy transformation and believes it’s #Australia’s big chance to show the world what we’re capable of. 🌏 “Australia has all the natural resources and sunlight to be an energy superpower in Gladstone," says Dr Opolot. He sees this as Australia’s moment to #lead the way. "We are attracting #researchers and #companies from different parts of the world who are eager to collaborate and learn," he says. "This will bring new jobs and a great quality of life to the people living here." 🎬 Watch Dr Opolot's testimonial below! #NetZero #RenewableFuture #EnergyTransition #Gladstone #NetZero #Sustainability #FutureReady #RenewableEnergy #FutureMadeInAustralia #Sustainability #NetZeroEconomyAuthority #BringingNewEnergy #NewEnergy #CentralQueensland #Hydrogen Paul Hodgson

☘ CEO update: the luck of the Irish Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! The luck of the #Irish - a phrase that has never really been about luck at all. It traces back to the gold and silver rushes of the 19th century when Irish immigrants found success through perseverance. Some used the phrase dismissively, as if their achievements were mere fortune rather than hard work. But the truth is, people often made their own luck often through pushing through extraordinary #challenges. That’s how I think about our work. The transition to a net zero economy is not easy and managing it well is critical. The Australian Government has committed to supporting workers affected by this shift. That is why the Authority exists and why we are engaging with the communities, state, territory and local governments, First Nations groups, regional bodies, unions, industry, and investors - to ensure this transition isn’t just necessary, but fair. Despite the challenges, there is so much to be hopeful about. The technological strides in clean energy over the past decade, even the past three years, are nothing short of extraordinary. I grew up in Northern Ireland and moved to Australia at 16. That gave me an appreciation for the importance of social cohesion and approaching this transition not just as a technical shift, but as a human one. It will only succeed if it is built on #trust especially with those in our #regions who are most affected. In the words of George Bernard Shaw, “Progress is impossible without change.” The real measure of progress is not just in technology or investment but in how well we bring #people along. ☘ #SaintPatricksDay #Resilience #Opportunity #Transition #Change David Shankey

📅 CEDA Climate and Energy Summit 2025 On 1 May our CEO David Shankey will be joining discussions at the CEDA - Committee for Economic Development of Australia Climate and Energy Summit 2025. This event will bring together thought leaders to: 🔹 Navigate Australia’s complex pathway to net zero 🔹 Drive measurable climate and energy outcomes 🔹 Leverage opportunities in a globally competitive low-carbon economy Key Themes: 🔹 Accelerating net zero outcomes 🔹 Mitigating climate change impacts 🔹 Transforming energy supply 🔹 Decarbonising industry 🔹 Global market opportunities 🔹 Driving renewable energy innovation 👉 Find out more and register here: http://srkr.io/6048woi. 📅 Date: Thursday, 1 May 2025 📍 Location: Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre ⏰ Time: 8:20 AM – 5:45 PM CEDA - Committee for Economic Development of Australia #NetZero #EnergySummit Climate Change Authority Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) National Reconstruction Fund Corporation Victoria State Government (Victorian Government) Southerly Ten First Nations Chamber of Commerce and Industry Ausgrid Transgrid Squadron Energy Fortescue Blue Scope Steel VicGrid Clean Energy Regulator Climateworks Centre ACCIONA Australian Energy Council #NetZero #transformation #RenewableEnergy

🌏 Central Queensland: Leading the Charge in Clean Energy ⚡ As an economic powerhouse #CentralQueensland has the #infrastructure #skills and #resources to be a key player in Australia’s clean energy future. With a strong industrial heritage, the region is well-positioned to: 🔹 Attract investment and secure major projects 🔹 Create new export opportunities in hydrogen and critical minerals 🔹 Build a strong, future-ready economy To support this transition, the Australian Governmentis partnering with local communities to provide: Workforce support: ✔ Regional Workforce Transition Officers are working directly with businesses and workers to plan for the future. Skills & training: ✔ The New Energy Apprenticeships Program offers up to $10,000 to help apprentices gain clean energy skills. With the right support, Central Queensland will continue to thrive in a net zero economy. 📌 Find out more information visit: http://srkr.io/6046wY6. #EnergyTransition #Gladstone #NetZero #Sustainability #FutureReady #NetZero #RenewableEnergy #FutureMadeInAustralia #Sustainability #NetZeroEconomyAuthority #BringingNewEnergy #NewEnergy #CentralQueensland Noni Ryan Department of Employment and Workplace Relations

🏄♀️ ACCIONA: From wind to wave in a world first ACCIONA has teamed up with professional surfer Josh Kerr and his surfboard brand Draft Surf, to transform an old wind turbine blade into a surfboard – giving it a second life in the waves! 🌊☀🤙 Wind turbines have a life expectancy of about 20-30 years. As some of Australia’s oldest wind turbines begin to reach the end of their service life, ACCIONA is exploring ways to #recycle and #reuse the material wind turbine blades are built from. An initial range of ten prototype surfboards was produced using material from a decommissioned blade from the Waubra Wind Farm in Victoria. The surfboards have been #handcrafted by Kerr and his team on the Gold Coast, with composite turbine blade material incorporated into the deck, fins and the outer shell. Giving old wind turbine blades a second life is part of ACCIONA’s #TurbineMade initiative. Turbine Made is a project dedicated to exploring innovative ways to transform decommissioned wind turbine blades into new materials and product. Read the full story here: http://srkr.io/6045wch. #RenewableEnergy #CircularEconomy #windturbine #sustainability #netzero URBNSURF Surfing Australia Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water ACCIONA Energía DDB

MGA Thermal: full steam ahead on clean energy What if we could retrofit coal plants to run on stored #RenewableEnergy - using a cheap, clean, and scalable technology? Hunter-based MGA Thermal is making that vision a reality. Their Thermal Energy Storage Systems use MGA Blocks - a breakthrough material from the University of Newcastle. These blocks store heat from excess renewable energy and release it on demand to: 🔹 Power industry 🔹 Create 24/7 #CleanSteam 🔹 Run turbines at power stations without burning coal. Dr. Alexander Post, MGA Thermal’s co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, has been part of this journey from the lab to the real world. "This is our chance to help the world cut carbon and create real change," he says. With a $3.75M Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) boost, MGA Thermal is: ✅ Scaling up production ✅ Growing local jobs ✅ Exporting home grown tech to the world. 👉 Watch the video below to find out more information about MGA Thermal in the Hunter. #CleanEnergy #NetZero #FutureMadeInAustralia #Innovation #RenewableEnergy #FutureMadeInAustralia #Sustainability #NetZeroEconomyAuthority #BringingNewEnergy #NewEnergy #Hunter

CEO update: Focusing on Gippsland 🌾⚙ The #Latrobe Valley and broader #Gippsland region has been Victoria’s powerhouse for more than 100 years. It is a dynamic region, with strong employment not just in energy but in #health #agriculture and #tourism. The region’s food and fibre sector alone, contribute significantly to Australia's national economy. Thank you Senator Dr. Jess Walsh and the Committee for Gippsland for hosting discussions last week on the real concerns and opportunities influencing Gippsland's transition. And many thanks to all those who contributed. We recognise the challenges and changes that lay ahead for the region. The Yallourn coal-fired power station will close in 2028, followed by Loy Yang A in 2035. I know that there is much work to do to ensure the Gippsland community is supported through this transition. We are committed to supporting Latrobe and the broader Gippsland area through both the challenges and opportunities of this transition. 📌 Find out more about our work in the Latrobe Valley: http://srkr.io/6044wXs. 📌 Subscribe to receive updates on the Gippsland transition: http://srkr.io/6045wXt. David Shankey Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water Regional Development Australia Gippsland Sarah Rhodes Victorian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations AGL Alinta Energy Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union Wellington Shire Council BlueFloat Energy Australia Gippsland Skies Corio Generation Ørsted RWE #OW Mining and Energy Union Electrical Trades Union of Australia, Victorian Branch Federation University Australia ENGIE AU Gippsland Climate Change Network Inc. Latrobe City Council South Gippsland Shire Council Opal Australia Pty Ltd Star of the South Iberdrola Hydro Australia Gippsland Critical Minerals Marinus Link AusNet Safetech Pty Ltd #JustTransition #RegionalTransformation #Victoria

The #Hunter’s manufacturing sector is #powering ahead—but how do we cut emissions while keeping industry strong? ⚙⚡   The journey to Net Zero is picking up speed, and #manufacturing — one of the Hunter region’s most energy-intensive sectors—is at the centre of the #transformation. While renewables like wind, solar, and hydrogen are key, there’s still the challenge of reducing emissions from existing production.    Join Business Hunter and the Net Zero Economy Authority as we explore the future of low-carbon manufacturing. Industry leaders will share insights on new technologies, real-world solutions, and what this shift means for local businesses and workers.    This Friday 14 March:  🥐Coffee and light breakfast 7:00 AM | Formalities 7:30 AM start – 9:00 AM   📍Q Building, University of Newcastle, 16B Honeysuckle Dr.    👉 Be part of the conversation shaping the next chapter for the Hunter. Register today: https://lnkd.in/gAn9R97y.   #NetZero #HunterRegion #CleanEnergy #FutureIndustries #RenewableEnergy #FutureMadeInAustralia #Sustainability #NetZeroEconomyAuthority #BringingNewEnergy #NewEnergy #Hunter Bob Hawes Alex Brennan hyp - Hunter Young Professionals Hunter Joint Organisation