In its fifth year, AES 2018 will again co-locate with the third Renewable Cities Australia Forum.
Sam Staples, AES Sales Manager and Conference Program Manager, said,
“We are very excited about relocating AES to Adelaide for 2018. Adelaide and South Australia have positioned themselves as national leaders in the push to modernise energy systems through the uptake of clean and efficient technologies. The state is well on its way to becoming 100% renewable and energy storage is the key to achieving this benchmark.”
Mr Staples said the move to Australia’s clean-energy hotspot will provide unique opportunities for exhibitors and visitors, with additional exhibition zones, expanded workshop programs and energy-storage site tours, ensuring visitors and exhibitors can capitalise on the opportunities Adelaide offers in this field.
After holding the largest AES to date this year, 2018 will see further growth in energy storage as well as the expanded Renewable Cities, Electric Vehicle and Charging, and Future-Tech Zones.
Recognising the importance of a clean-energy future, the Government of South Australia supported this event to showcase its clean-energy achievements to delegates both in Australia and abroad attending this conference.
Energy Minister Tom Koutsantonis said South Australia has long been a leader in clean-energy generation.
“In 2017, our state has set a compelling example of attracting the best and most innovative renewable energy and storage projects.
“Our recently announced Tesla grid-scale battery at Jamestown and solar thermal facility near Port Augusta has firmly entrenched South Australia as a hotbed for advancement in storing renewable energy.
On a residential and commercial scale, South Australian businesses are also leading the way in providing storage and demand-management solutions. Renewable energy with storage is the future because it is reliable, clean and more affordable than conventional generation.
“This is just the beginning of the renewable energy revolution that we are leading to make Adelaide the world’s first carbon-neutral city.”
The AES 2018 conference program, including site tours, will be announced early next year, with commercial and utility-energy storage companies around Adelaide running site tours.
As well as allowing conference delegates an in-depth look at technology and installations, the redeveloped AES 2018 will see an expanded social program and new-look exhibition floor.
Mr Staples said 2018 will see several new benefits and programs to ensure exhibitors can fully gain from participating, including 15 minutes to present products and services in the heart of the exhibition floor and an all-access conference pass.
As well as the highly popular networking drinks at the closing of day one that is open to all exhibitors and attendees, in 2018 an exclusive utility networking breakfast will add to the expanded networking offerings.
Mr Staples said post-event feedback this year showed AES delivers the highest calibre of buyers and decision makers, as well as generates quality leads and strong ROI, with 97% of visitors satisfied the show keeps them up to date with technology and valuing the opportunity to meet suppliers face to face, while 92% of conference delegates made new and useful industry contacts.
AES 2018’s conference and exhibition will showcase leading companies that are charting the course of the energy transition through energy storage solutions at the residential, commercial and grid levels. The show will allow energy industry experts to see first-hand how South Australia is leading the world in clean-energy generation and storage.
The sectors covered include: agriculture, construction, corporate asset management, design and economic consultants, education and government, facility and building management, finance, heating and cooling, housing and remote communities, manufacturing, mining, power management, recycling, energy-storage solution and renewable-energy system providers, R&D, telecommunications, transport and utilities.
Visitors in 2017 came from New Zealand, Asia, the Pacific, North America and Europe; with its expanded program, AES 2018 is positioned to draw even greater international visitor numbers.