An Australian clean energy pioneer-turned-filmmaker is hoping his documentaries will help to change the world's approach to renewables.
The University of Wollongong hosted a free screening of Andy Evans' documentary Planet Wind on the Uni Hall big screen last Wednesday as part of UOW’s EmpowerHER STEM Summit, a school holiday program for girls in Years 7, 8 and 9.
“At the moment, you can't sit there at home and say you truly understand what we're doing with energy, who's right, who's wrong, or what we should be doing," Andy said after the screening. "So, I always love getting out on the road and showing it. We really want to change renewables and the opportunities in front of us from being an old white man's political movement to more of the social and cultural movement that we all should have a say in and understand.”
Clean energy supporters at the event praised Planet Wind for its inspiring message and spectacular cinematography.
“We hope to present our films in a fairly unbiased way,” said Andy, who narrates the documentary.
“We're really big on the cinematography because we want people to buy into the fact that we live on a great planet and we should be utilising it more for good reasons.”
Planet Wind was shot in 13 countries, including Australia, and features interviews with more than 20 leaders in offshore wind. Since the film premiered in the US last year, however, the international industry has suffered investment uncertainty, with global capital directed elsewhere and misinformation clouding the take-up of new technology. In the Illawarra, where zone development has stalled, federal leaders have welcomed a new national research and demonstration phase.
“I think we need a way of communicating to everyone that we live on a great planet and we've got great opportunities,” Andy said.
His two decades in renewables have included co-founding Gippsland's Star of the South offshore wind project, which is now being developed in Victoria, and Oceanex Energy, which will not proceed with a feasibility licence as part of a joint venture with Norway's Equinor in the Hunter.
“For me, despite being a renewable energy developer, making films, I think, is the best way of communicating globally to a wide age group about what great opportunities we've got,” Andy said.
Andy is hoping to return to Wollongong later this year for a screening of Planet Sun, a sequel looking at the potential for solar energy across 10 countries. Planet Sun will have its global premiere in Melbourne on October 22 as part of EnergyFest – another one of his initiatives.
“Planet Sun, much like Planet Wind, is very much about inspiring current and next generations about how great our planet is, how we've got these great natural resources, which we've been using for millennia, and we've now got new ways of using them that are really positive, but they get caught up in politics,” Andy said.
Viewers of Planet Wind shared their verdict on the night.
Ali's review
“What Planet Wind drove home, for me, is how countries leading the charge with offshore wind are countries that realise how important it is for their economy and communities to be energy self-sufficient. This means they no longer need to import expensive fossil fuels and be subject to the wild prices. Australia is incredibly well placed to be self-sufficient with renewable energy and a leader in manufacturing components for renewable projects worldwide.
“During the film we heard from people involved in offshore wind projects in Denmark, Japan and Taiwan, among others, and what drives them – the climate and how it implicates generations to come …
“What I took away is how critical offshore wind will be as part of a diversified energy grid – as we see other countries demonstrate incredible success it looks like it's 'when' not 'if' for offshore wind in Australia.”
Cath's review
“The movie was very beautiful, and I found it quite inspiring to see what's happening in Taiwan and Sri Lanka and Northern Europe – all over the world. Because in Wollongong, and in Australia, we don't have any offshore wind power systems yet.
“It was really cool to see what's happening all around the world, how they’re navigating it, the assessment process and the community input as well.”
Avril and Colin's review
Avril: “I thought the film was really important, because it shows what we really need to do, the impacts of everything and how to change it… what we need to do and what's happened that we need to fix.”
Colin: “I really appreciate the way all the different religions and cultural traditions relate to wind. I really enjoyed a lot of that and the different music that went with that.
“It’s taking on a combination of the challenges of getting good information to people about these kinds of technologies – what they can do and what they offer, and helping people sort out myths and disinformation about those kinds of things. I don't think anyone's proposing to turn off their fridge and stop using energy. So, we need to compare the kinds of energy that we want to build and the kinds of futures that they create for our future generations.”
Alison's review
“It was a great mix of really educational material and beautiful scenery, great stories, and I think Andy's done a fabulous job.”
“I particularly liked the stories told in it. I have been to Denmark and I've been to Aberdeen, and I've seen some of those offshore wind projects myself. So, it was really great to relive those experiences today.”
Deb's review
“I thought it was beautiful, challenging, it's something that should be shared with people who are not so convinced about the need for renewable energies. It presented it in a way that was easily understood but also communicated the importance of doing something. I think that it is a message that is being lost at the moment in too much politicising.”
“I really do believe that we should get back to the basics – it is a beautiful world and we should be doing everything we can to preserve it for our children and our grandchildren. And these are major changes, I understand that. But why would we keep looking at the soul-destroying fossil fuel energy provision, when we have renewable energy?”
“It's not easy, but it's something we have to do to preserve the future. If you use the wind, it doesn't diminish it. It just gets used. It's not like when you cut coal out of the ground or you put gas in the air, [wind] has no impact on the environment …
"So, I think it's wonderful, everybody should watch it.”