Recycling, Stewardship & Policy Risk in Australia’s Energy Transition with Darren Johannesen S2E5

The GREENROOM podcast is joined by Darren Johannesen - Executive General Manager of Sustainability from the Smart Energy Council, for a grounded and wide-ranging conversation on the future of renewable energy, climate responsibility, and the real challenges facing Australia’s clean energy transition.Darren brings a rare mix of strategic foresight, policy experience, and systems thinking, cutting through surface-level climate talk to explore what actually matters: circular economy principles, solar panel recycling, materials recovery, energy infrastructure, and how renewables intersect with biodiversity and long-term sustainability.It's an honest discussion about where the renewable energy sector is doing well, where it’s falling short, and what needs to change if we’re serious about climate action - not just targets on paper.If you work in renewables, energy policy, sustainability, solar, batteries, recycling, or climate advocacy, or if you simply care about the direction our energy systems are heading, this conversation will give you clarity and context.Topics covered include:The role of the Smart Energy Council in Australia’s energy transitionSolar panel and battery recycling realitiesCircular economy vs real-world logisticsClimate change impacts beyond temperature headlinesWhy materials, supply chains, and stewardship matterLong-term thinking in renewable energy policy