The Investment Reality of Renewable Energy

In this episode of Energy in the Room, Katie sits down with Stephen Panizza - Founding Partner and Head of Renewable Energy at Federation Asset Management and former Chief Investment Risk Officer at the CEFC - for a candid conversation about what it really takes to deliver the energy transition in Australia. Stephen shares why he believes “we need to make energy boring again”, unpacking the shift from hype-driven conversations to the hard reality of building renewable infrastructure at scale. From batteries and grid engineering to community engagement, data centre demand, and investor expectations, this episode dives deep into the practical challenges shaping the future of energy. The conversation also explores why most renewable projects fail at the grid connection stage, what investors actually look for in developers, the growing role of batteries in supporting AI and data centres, and why community trust can make or break a project. Whether you're working in renewables, infrastructure, investment, or simply trying to understand where the energy market is heading next, this episode offers a grounded and refreshingly honest perspective from one of the industry's most experienced voices. This podcast is brought to you by Vinova.