ZEN and the Victorian Chambers of Commerce and Industry working together for a net-zero future.

April 5, 2023.

ZEN Energy is proud to be a member of The Victorian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, providing insights on the path of achieving net-zero for Victoria.

This is part of ZEN’s strategy to work with like-minded businesses to accelerate the transition to renewable energy for a positive outcome “…when there’s no longer any coal or gas being used to generate electricity…”, as ZEN CEO Anthony Garnaut mentioned in his interview below. By acting as a community and alongside the government, we will be able to not only achieve Australian mandatory targets, yet increase them such as ramping up the Renewable Energy Target (RET).

Image: Numurkah Solar Farm, in Victoria.

Article from: The Victorian Chambers of Commerce and Industry

ZEN Energy: Committed to renewable solutions

According to ZEN Energy CEO Anthony Garnaut, while Victoria is not the sunniest place in Australia, “it’s a lot sunnier than Germany”, meaning the cost of solar even in Melbourne is a lot cheaper than building a solar farm in the sunniest part of Germany. 

“What that means is it’s a pretty good place to set up a business in Victoria if you use a lot of electricity,” he says.

“If you’re a global company, if you’re a data centre thinking, ‘where do I put my next data centre: do I put it in Germany, do I put it in Melbourne?’ If you come to Melbourne, solar is relatively cheap.

“We’ve also got a really good wind resource in Victoria – it’s one of the locations in the world where producing renewable energy is relatively cheap. 

“So we think as the renewable transition gathers pace, there will be lots of opportunities for renewable-based manufacturing industries to set up in Victoria to enjoy the excellent wind and relatively excellent sun we have here.”

That’s why ZEN Energy is committed to sustainable energy technologies and fostering zero-carbon communities.

As a renewable retailer, ZEN specialises in providing renewable-based solutions to customers. Understanding that the transition to renewable energy is gradual and requires systemic change, ZEN’s business model involves offering the customer a long-term vision.

“We primarily source our power from solar and wind farms and so our cost base isn’t affected by the ups and downs in the global fossil fuel markets,” Anthony says.

“However, if new solar or wind farms are going to be built, they need to sell that electricity to someone. So ZEN Energy specialises in long-term sustainability partnerships. 

“There are 50 electricity retail businesses in the market and most focus on selling one to three-year contracts. We like to work with partners over the long term, over a five or a 10 or a 15-year time frame.

“What we like to do with customers is sit down, talk through the cost factors that are affecting their business and what they think about sustainability, and then we can design a contract that might involve some combination of direct electricity supply but then maybe also putting solar on roofs or putting in a battery at your business, which might lower the non-electricity costs on your bill.

“We’re set up in such a way that will thrive when there’s no longer any coal or gas being used to generate electricity.”

Anthony is hopeful about the prospects of Victoria’s local renewable market and the economic benefits it may bring.

“The proportion of our electricity that comes from renewable resources is a fair bit higher than most places in the world, even than places like France. Victoria is now getting up there with Germany. 

“If we keep going, we’ll get to a zero-carbon electricity grid and before a lot of other places. That opens up a whole new world of industries that will be seeking to exploit the opportunities for low-cost power that comes with these free resources that we have out there in the sun, in the wind that are a lot cheaper to use than the gas and the coal that is now in high demand in the export market.”

However, a successful and sustainable transition will require buy-in and co-operation from individuals, business and government, Anthony says.

“We don’t have a net-zero economy until all of our electricity comes from renewable sources,” Anthony says.

“Households use a little under half of the electricity in Victoria, which means that businesses have more than half a contribution to make to the journey to net zero. 

“Until businesses start committing and thinking forward about what that journey is going to look like, the transition to net-zero won’t happen in a stable and predictable way.

“If we can have a coordinated plan, the transition will happen faster, be less bumpy and the destination we get to will be a better destination.

“So I think it’s really important that businesses start thinking about what the next 15 years will look like and getting the conversations going with their families, local governments and through the Victorian Chamber to work out what role they can play as businesses in making this transition as successful as possible.”

Victorian Chamber advocacy

The Victorian Chamber Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has launched a series of advocacy videos endorsing our campaign to support businesses’ transition to a net-zero economy. Achieving a Net-Zero Economy: Roadmap for Victorian Businesses focuses on three core objectives: reducing energy prices, ensuring the reliable supply of energy, and supporting businesses transition to a net-zero economy.

ENDS

A ZEN night before Christmas

T’was the night before Christmas, when all through the office
The ZEN team were busy applying a poultice,
To the worn out feet of ZEN’s tired sales lead,
Who’d had one big year pitching the renewable creed.

ZEN’s customers were nestled, all snug in bed,
Knowing they’d chosen to help the environment instead,
Of sending more coal smoke up into the air.
They were sleeping so soundly, with nary a care!

When outside there came, in a silent descent,
A jolly old fellow with 100 percent
Green electricity powering the red nose of his reindeer ride,
He polished it and primped it with much glowing pride.

ZEN’s customers knew for sure, right away,
It was Santa aboard his brand-new ZEN sleigh.
Delivering a pile of Christmas delight,
To families everywhere all through the night.

“To be part of this 1.5 degree journey,
Means that I no longer need my Christmas attorney,
To cover my arse for all the pollution.
ZEN’s super team delivered the solution!

We’re away on our journey to be 100% green.
It’s the best Christmas present that I’ve ever seen!
I’m so proud to sign up to this collective alchemy,
It makes me want to laugh, dance and shimmy!”

To all of our partners, customers, and friends,
Thanks for joining our journey, you know where it ends:
With Australia as a green Superpower
And ZEN adding renewables each single hour!

And ZEN’s customers heard Santa say,
As he jumped into his snazzy ZENLECTRIC sleigh,
And headed on into the night,

HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!

ZEN SIGNS INNOVATIVE BUNDLED AGREEMENT WITH SEI AND YES GROUP

05 December 2022

ZEN Energy (ZEN) announced today that it has completed yet another innovatively structured renewable energy agreement, this time with South Australian headquartered Sustainable Energy Infrastructure (SEI) and YES Group.

The agreement gives ZEN access to a portfolio of Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) sourced from a series of compact, dynamic assets across the National Electricity Market. Commencing with a 5MW PPA from the SEI owned Mulwala Solar Farm, ZEN will continue to build its generation capacity with SEI by accessing a portfolio of projects across South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales.

Mulwala is part of a diverse portfolio of distributed, sustainable energy assets owned by SEI, with YES Group providing EPC, operations and management, and other support services for the growing portfolio. The Mulwala site is expected to be generating by early 2023 and the offtake agreement with ZEN spans the following decade. The parties are also in advanced discussions regarding up to an additional 30MW of combined BESS/sub-5MW solar farms in Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales that YES Group is building for SEI as part of its growing infrastructure asset portfolio. SEI was established and is managed by global real assets investment manager, PATRIZIA SE (PATRIZIA) on behalf of two Australian institutional superannuation fund investors.

“Bringing on a series of 5MW assets enables us to support the regional aspirations of our customers. It means they can access offtakes where they are located, like regional distribution centres. Small assets mean we can service sustainability-focused customers, fast,” said ZEN Energy CEO, Anthony Garnaut.

Plants of this size are considered by the network operator to be low impact to the stability of the grid. Connection processes are significantly less onerous, and ZEN can bring capacity into its portfolio faster as a result of reduced technical requirements, cost and the time needed to connect.

“In line with PATRIZIA’s approach to sustainable investing and supporting local communities, we are focussed on delivering renewable energy solutions alongside ZEN, SEI and Yes Group throughout regional Australia. These small projects enable us to get assets into the market faster and it provides us with a diversified and scalable platform,” said PATRIZIA’s Head of Infrastructure Australia and Asia, Saji Anantakrishnan.

“The YES Group has grown and flourished in regional South Australia. Our business model is all about working with organisations with the same values as us and a focus on serving communities,” said YES Group Managing Director, Mark Yates. “Both SEI and ZEN are perfect examples of such partners; innovative, dynamic, and focused on creating change. We look forward to bringing on many more projects together.”

“Australia needs renewable generation and storage capacity urgently. Creating innovative solutions to this problem is all that ZEN is focused on right now,” added Anthony.

About SEI

Sustainable Energy Infrastructure (SEI) is an owner and operator of a diversified portfolio of sustainable distributed energy assets across Australia. SEI is an investment vehicle that was established by PATRIZIA to acquire a portfolio of power generation and distributed energy assets. Currently comprising a portfolio of co-generation, biomass, and biogas generation assets, SEI has partnered with YES Group to develop and own a portfolio of mid-scale solar generation and integrated battery storage assets throughout regional Australia. SEI’s assets are overseen by an in-house multi-disciplinary asset management team.

About YES Group

South Australian owned Yates Electrical Services (YES GROUP) has been delivering high quality construction services to the renewable energy sector since 2004. Established by Riverland local Mark Yates, the company has been instrumental in the development of numerous renewable high-voltage projects across Australia, including High voltage substation construction and wind and solar farm project development. Over the past 5 years, YES Group has developed and constructed over 100 solar farms in the sub 5MW market, managing 100% of the renewable energy generation offtake into the National Electricity Market through its YES Energy Retail business.

About PATRIZIA

With operations around the world, PATRIZIA has been offering investment opportunities in real estate and infrastructure assets for institutional, semi-professional and private investors for 38 years. PATRIZIA manages more than EUR 57 billion in assets and employs over 1,000 professionals at 28 locations worldwide. Through its PATRIZIA Foundation, PATRIZIA is committed to social responsibility. The Foundation has helped around 250,000 children in need worldwide gain access to education and thus, has given them the chance of a better life over the last 23 years. You can find further information here.

On 1 February 2022, PATRIZIA completed its merger with Whitehelm Capital, a global specialist infrastructure manager, which following the merger has become PATRIZIA’s infrastructure division with global capabilities. The company has an extensive track record of investing in listed and unlisted infrastructure equity and debt assets throughout Asia Pacific, the Americas and Europe.

ZEN Energy supports a pioneering environmental project to bring nature back to South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula

ZEN Energy has started 2022 by committing its support to the Forktree Project as they re-establish tens of thousands of native trees and shrubs; this will see the return of native animals, insects and birds and sequester tens of thousands of tonnes of carbon in South Australia’s beautiful Fleurieu Peninsula. The Forktree Project need $85,000 to build a renewable energy solution, and ZEN Energy is kickstarting the project by donating $35,000.

As part of the ongoing partnership, ZEN Energy will also donate $300 from every residential solar or battery storage energy system it sells during the campaign period to complete the entire renewable energy solution built on the Forktree site.

“Our customers can benefit from a state of the art solar system, reduce their energy costs and carbon emissions, while significantly supporting one of South Australia’s most important environmental projects,” says ZEN Energy’s CEO, Anthony Garnaut. “These grassroots initiatives enable people to seize the opportunity to lower carbon emissions beyond their own home as well as enabling communities to thrive within the new world.”

Led by Tim Jarvis, AM, Adventurer and Environmental Scientist, the Forktree project is a charity to reforest a degraded former pastoral property in South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula to show what is possible in terms of land restoration and carbon offsetting. Tim is committed to finding pragmatic solutions to major environmental issues related to climate change and biodiversity loss.

In collaboration with the Prince’s Trust Australia, this project will develop education programs for young people and the broader community about the importance of environmental stewardship.

“Restoring this once pristine land in such an incredible part of Australia is vital to do, coming at a globally critical time for species/habitat loss and climate change,” said Tim Jarvis AM. “We are very excited to be working with ZEN Energy as a partner.”

South Australian homeowners looking to lower their carbon footprint with a solar or battery storage system and would like to support the Forktree Project can learn more here.

A ZEN night before Christmas

T’was the night before Christmas, when all through the office
The ZEN team were busy applying a poultice,
To the worn out feet of ZEN’s tired sales lead,
Who’d had one big year pitching the renewable creed.

ZEN’s customers were nestled, all snug in bed,
Knowing they’d chosen to help the environment instead,
Of sending more coal smoke up into the air.
They were sleeping so soundly, with nary a care!

When outside there came, in a silent descent,
A jolly old fellow with 100 percent
Green electricity powering the red nose of his reindeer ride,
He polished it and primped it with much glowing pride.

ZEN’s customers knew for sure, right away,
It was Santa aboard his brand-new ZEN sleigh.
Delivering a pile of Christmas delight,
To families everywhere all through the night.

“To be part of this 1.5 degree journey,
Means that I no longer need my Christmas attorney,
To cover my arse for all the pollution.
ZEN’s super team delivered the solution!

We’re away on our journey to be 100% green.
It’s the best Christmas present that I’ve ever seen!
I’m so proud to sign up to this collective alchemy,
It makes me want to laugh, dance and shimmy!”

To all of our partners, customers, and friends,
Thanks for joining our journey, you know where it ends:
With Australia as a green Superpower
And ZEN adding renewables each single hour!

And ZEN’s customers heard Santa say,
As he jumped into his snazzy ZENLECTRIC sleigh,
And headed on into the night,

HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!