Heather Smith Churchill Fellow

I was incredibly honoured to be awarded a Churchill Fellowship on the topic of governance and community energy. From May to July 2016 I traveled to USA, Germany, Denmark, UK and Japan to investigate the changes in electricity markets that are being stimulated by community led energy initiatives. My full report and summary is available on the Churchill website and as a download. My Blog offers a range of summaries for different audiences, snapshots of the experience and resources from each place I visited.

Over the past 6 years I have been working on a PhD, "redesigning the electricity grid with local energy". I have modelled microgrids in Heyfield, Venus Bay (Vic) and Arkaroola. I have modelled community batteries in Noosa and Tarwin Lower. I have developed a range of tools for community energy groups and you'll find some of those on my calculator page.

In 2018 I partnered with Tandem Energy in a tender to 6 Councils south of Adelaide. We think we have a model that any region in South Australia could roll out - to deliver local economic benefits and better local energy supplies at the same time. We've put our ideas in the public domain so that we can partner with anyone in the energy sector and in the regions that has something to contribute. Feel free to share your expertise via this link.

Follow my progress

In 2018 I am hoping to support the conversation about community energy in South Australia by sharing progress and relevant events - hopefully monthly. If you are interested in the shape of our energy future, please subscribe - click here

Services

Changing Weather is currently offering energy services in partnership with Tandem Energy (see the brochure)

·          Low carbon technology and policy

·          Monitoring and Verification

        (Heather Smith is one of the few Certified Monitoring & Verification Professionals in SA - ID3248)

·          Cogeneration and energy systems design

·          Energy flow analysis and electricity demand management

·          Renewable energy assessment

·          Technical communication – written and presentations

·          Government liaison, policy and legislation

·          Influencing and strategy development

·          Project management

Community Energy

I have served on the boards of both CORENA, (Citizens Own Renewable Energy Network Australia) and C4CE (the Coalition for Community Energy). I am currently the Chair of C4CE, soon re-branding as Energy Together. After a successful Congress in 2024, we are looking forward to growing out impact and reconvening the sector. 

·          Community Energy Roadshow, we bring inspiration and advice to your community

        See the brochure

·          Pro Bono Community Energy advice

        click here to book a short advice session and get your community energy project started.

Recent Projects

>  Supporting 10 South Australians to attend the Community Energy Congress in Melbourne

>  2015 Churchill Fellow, traveling in May 2016 to study governance of community energy

>  Renewables for All leadership for the Conservation Council of SA

>  Monitoring regulatory environment for solar finance and business models.

>   Data analysis of SA energy use in preparation for Emission Reduction Fund.

>   Project on expanding markets for SA architectural sector with Sustain SA

my word cloud

I asked for feedback before I left my last job. Here's what people said: