Category Archives: Uncategorized

The Jaws of a beast

Posted on by

Footage taken 2 weeks after a monster bore down on Tathra.
Out of respect for those that have lost everything, no houses have been shown in this video.
A big thanks to National Parks, the police and ambulance, SES, VRA, NSW Fire and Rescue, NSW Forestry, and the courageous RFS. Thanks to brigades from Shoalhaven, Milton, Kangaroo Valley, Bega, Bemboka, Bermagui, Brogo, Burragate, Candelo, Cobargo, Eden, Kiah, Eurobodalla, Nethercote, Quaama, Rocky Hall, Towamba, Wolumla, Wonboyn, Numbugga, Pambula, Jellat, Angledale, Taraganda, Merimbula, Buckajo, Tanja, and of course Tathra. Thank you for saving our town.

Tathra Community pulls together in crisis

Posted on by

Clean Energy for Eternity was born in Tathra in 2006 when 2000 assembled in the beach to make the human sign you see on our banner at the top of this page. Up until Sunday’s devastating fires the news out of Tathra has always been good – a tight knit supportive community acutely aware of the risks of climate change and working together for a low carbon future, as epitomised in CEFE’s slogan 50/50 by 2020, proudly displayed on the water tower as you enter town. The latest in a long list of initiatives undertaken by Clean Energy for Eternity was to have been a ‘Hub in the Pub’ talk on the Science of climate change by CEFE founder and President Dr Matthew Nott that was to have taken place on Tuesday 20/3 when the catastrophic fires upturned everyone’s lives. From all of us in the wider CEFE community our hearts go out to those who have their homes and now have to start the process of rebuilding their lives. At least no lives were lost. Tathra will recover, and what we need now is to IMAGINE that future. We are relieved that the Tathra Community Solar Farm has emerged unscathed.

Solar Workshops in Bermagui Feb 13/14/15

Posted on by

Explore the possibility of installing solar panels and/or batteries with the two suppliers identified by Clean Energy for Eternity Bermagui. On offer are bulk-buy prices for top quality technology.

The companies are Ekonomix, and SunnyAfternoons Solar in association with Reposit Power.

There will be three workshops, on February 13, 14, and 15, starting at 5:30 pm at the Bermagui Country Club (basement meeting room). Each workshop will be limited to 20 households or small businesses and attendance can be booked by email response to Bill Caldicott ([email protected]) indicating first, second and third preference for date. If there is greater demand further workshops will be arranged.

The format will be a general Q and A session followed by one on one interviews with suppliers.

Subjects to be covered will include:

1. Retail power prices.
2. Types of technology.
3. Product specifications and warranties.
4. System design and size to fit your needs.
5. Cost of solar panels and batteries and return on investment.
6. Finance options including low interest loans.

It is recommended that you bring a recent power bill to help with giving you the most appropriate advice on the day.

Disclaimer: The solar suppliers responded to an Expression of Interest from Clean Energy for Eternity Bermagui, but Clean Energy for Eternity Bermagui is not in a position to recommend any particular technology or supplier. Any contracts will be made directly with a supplier.

20171210 Powering the Bega Valley

Posted on by


If you missed this meeting that was held on Sunday 10 December 2017 at the Bermagui Country Club you can view the presentations click here

The three presentations covered are from

John Walters who spoke on Renewable Energy Options for the Bega Valley

Bill Southwood who described the responses CEFE had received from potential commercial partners and

Jo Lewis who reviewed the options for establishing a community based power company and the prospects for solar gardens.

At the meeting there was also an overview by Bill Caldicott in which he showed how electricity bills are made up and how they can be reduced.

The resolutions passed by those assembled at the conclusion of the presentations are also included.

Download flyer here and agenda here

Tathra Community Solar Farm Performance

Posted on by

Tathra Community Solar Farm – IMAGINE generating clean and green, renewable power!

The TCSF is a 30kW solar photovoltaic installation at the Tathra Sewerage Treatment Plant. It consists of 120 pollycrystalline 250W Trina solar panels and two 15 kW Fronius Symo 3 phase inverters grid connected. The panel elevation ange is 15 degrees.

In 2014 Bega Valley Shire Council (BVSC) formed a partnership with CEFE to develop one of Australia’s first community solar farms. Through organising multiple events and broader community engagement, CEFE has raised money over many years for local community organisations (e.g. RFS fire sheds, community halls, churches, surf clubs, preschools and a tourist venue) to install solar PV. To further this work CEFE approached Council to develop a joint venture which could be a beacon to other communities around Australia for climate change action. By combining passion and expertise, the Tathra Community Solar Farm project was conceived, built and opened in 2015. The project captures financial savings and reinvests these in other local solar projects – creating a win:win:win for CEFE, Council and the local community.

The project has received fantastic support from the local community and various organisations. Community donors, including local business, helped raise valuable funds for the project, while the Tathra Mountain Bike Enduro event provided significant support and funding to make the project a reality. The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage assisted and Bega Valley Shire Council contributed half of the project cost and project managed the design and construction.

In its first year of operation the savings in electricity costs amounted to $4379 This will be reinvested in further community solar projects.