The Renewable Energy Industry in Australia is rapidly growing and diverse. It has enormous potential and it is the Fellow’s belief that it is set to become one of Australia’s biggest industries. A large range of renewable energy products are manufactured in Australia for local and export markets. In addition to this, many products and components are imported into Australia and the overall market is significant. The need for skilled personnel to design, install, test and maintain such equipment is growing rapidly.

Currently the industry is poised to deliver:• reductions in greenhouse gas emissions• reductions in energy costs to Victorians• employment opportunities• export revenues.

The issue of renewable energy resources has significant currency within discourse surrounding issues of environmental protection and control. The Victorian and Federal Governments are backing the adoption of renewable energies, offering research anddevelopment grants and rebates for equipment installations in an attempt to reduce energy costs and reduce greenhouse gases. In addition, the Commonwealth Government, in consultation with industry, developed the Renewable Energy Action Agenda (REAA). This Agenda aims to achieve a sustainable and internationally competitive renewable energy industry with annual sales of $4 billion by 2010.