Energy Insiders - a RenewEconomy Podcast

Consultant Shane Quinnell on the many hurdles we force renewable projects to jump over – and then wonder why they trip up. Plus, news of the week.

Is Australia on target for a “step change” in energy? AEMO’S head of systems Nicola Falcon on the 2026 ISP and the importance of grid forming inverters. Plus: Renewable tender changes, data centre rules and more electric trucks.

Electric trucks are suddenly big news in Australia. We catch up with NewVolt's Anthony Headlam on its plans for network of large charging stations. Plus: News of the week.

We look at AEMO's Integrated System Plan, plus the latest big battery tender, and the Coalition's determination to destroy everything. Plus: David visits China's State Grid, Xiami and CATL.

AEMC chair Anna Collyer discusses the pricing review, network tariffs, and the right of monopolies to get their money back. Plus: David Leitch joins us from the Silk Road in China.

Jürgen Reinart, the CEO of inverter giant SMA, on why the grid can function without spinning machines, and why it quit the Australian home market. Plus: Is AEMO changing course on VPPs, and other news of the week.

In an exclusive interview, Tesla Energy's Asia Pacific boss Josef Tadich discusses energy abundance (read solar), the role of batteries big and small, hybrids, the EV surge and the arrival of V2G.

Jet Charge founder Tim Washington on the need for more chargers, faster machines, multiple bays and electric trucks. Plus: CIS tender results, electrification and other news of the week.

Power expert Keith Middleton discusses how the growth in data centres, properly regulated, won't break the grid and could be good for the energy transition. Plus: Finally, some financing deals, and other news of the week.

Tim Buckley from Climate and Energy Finance joins to discuss the good, bad and the ugly from the federal budget, how to fix the Capacity Investment Scheme, and other news.

Smart Energy Council's John Grimes on the death of coal power in Australia, panel by panel, home battery by home battery. He joins to discuss what's next. Plus: Twiggy's green grid, W.A.'s renewables rush, and other news.

Ben Hutt, the CEO of battery-swap electric truck company Janus Electric on the switch from diesel. Plus: AEMO's good news on energy transition, and Australia's gas fail.

Federal energy and climate minister Chris Bowen discusses fuel crisis, the renewables target, the problems with wind, EV road tax, electrification, and the upcoming COP31. Plus: ABC's EV fail and first Greens energy minister retires.

BMI's Iola Hughes discusses the extraordinary growth of battery storage, for EVs and the grid, their key role in energy security, and the different chemistries. Plus: Fortescue's fast-tracks path to real zero, finally some big wind, and will Albanese seize the moment?

Large scale wind projects are not getting finance and are not getting built. CEIG's Richie Merzian discusses potential solutions, the looming CGT threat, and what's wrong with the CIS. Plus: Big month for EVs, and Fortescue's plan to eliminate diesel.

How did it come to this? Energy security expert and former deputy chief of the RAAF John Blackburn on how Australia's has done nothing to prepare itself for the current fossil fuel crisis. Plus: EV sales are surging and electric trucks are a thing. Someone tell the transport minister!

A solar farm inspired by Tony Abbott's climate attacks has finally been opened. Mhairi Fraser takes us through the remarkable journey. Plus: Boyne bailout, oil markets, and the EV boom.

We talk to Jeff Monday from Fluence on the fall in battery costs and the role it can play in taming data centre demand, and Adam Cameron from SA Power Networks on why there will be no transition without the "flexibility" revolution in the home.

David Hochschild, the head of the California Energy Commission, on how the world's fourth biggest economy is moving away from fossil fuels, despite Trump. Plus: News of the week.

The Australian trucking industry is about to experience an electric revolution, with plunging battery prices turning economics on its head. New Energy Transport's Daniel Bleakley explains. Plus: News of the week.

Francis Norman, the head of the Centre of Decommissioning Australia, on the extraordinary task of shutting down and removing oil and gas wells, and the lessons that could be learned for the offshore wind industry.

Lauri Myllyvirta, lead analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, on China’s record solar and wind build, and why clean energy is now driving more than a third of the country’s economic growth.

GridBeyond CEO Michael Phelan on how industrial loads and data centres are being orchestrated by AI and batteries to unlock gigawatts of hidden flexibility for the grid.

Sam Reynolds, the head of Octopus Australia, on why he hopes to build the country's biggest battery, and the emergence of solar-battery hybrids. Plus: AGL and Origin's fossil fuelled profits, with a green tinge.

Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull is pushing for more hydro, but is still pumped up by the hard right and the disappearance of the sensible middle. Plus: Big batteries seize the moment again.

Gina McCarthy, Obama's former EPA chief and Biden's climate czar, on the move to resist and overturn Trump's devastating policies. Plus: News of the week, and a perfect quarter for Australia.

UNSW Professor Matthew England, the world's leading expert on Southern Ocean modelling, discusses the catastrophic warming of our seas. Plus: Coal power extended in two states, and other news of the week.

We discuss some of the major events of the past year – the dominance of batteries, the emergence of solar-battery hybrids, the hassles for wind and transmission, and the conundrum of EVs.

AEMO's Nicola Falcon runs through the draft 2026 Integrated System Plan, and explains why baseload is not essential to keep the lights on. Plus, news of the week.

Energy systems expert Bruce Miller explains why spinning machines won't be needed in future grid, while regional independent MP Helen Haines says developers should drop the spin and focus on community benefits.

Frank Calabria, the CEO of Australia's biggest retailer, discusses plans for the country's biggest wind farm, its biggest battery and the biggest coal generator. Plus: News of the week including EPBC and AEMO transition plan.

We dissect Labor’s proposed environmental reforms with the help of Ashurst legal expert Jeff Lynn. Plus: News of the week, and is the CIS working?

Australia has more than $4 trillion in retirement savings but little of this finds its way to clean energy. Strategist Jeremy Cooper has an idea to fix this. Plus: The Super battery's not so super moment, and a rush of new projects.

Vestas vice president Jan Daniel Kaemmer discusses wind industry in Australia, the blockages and the potential. Plus: What to make of the free solar offer.

Amber's Chris Thompson talks home batteries and V2G at All Energy, while RE-Alliance's Andrew Bray and Uralla Council's Emily Sims discuss social licence in New England. And the news of the week, including EPBC and Tomago.

GE Vernova chief commercial officer Pablo Koziner on the latest thinking around data centres, wind energy, gas, SMRs and batteries. Plus: News of the week.

Fortescue CEO Dino Otranto discusses triumphs and challenges in real zero target, including self-lifting turbines, gravity trains, electric haul trucks and the rest. Plus: Queensland and Origin fossil up.

Powerlink CEO Paul Simshauser on managing the closure of Queensland's biggest coal generator, the role of transmission as prices double, and batteries vs syncons.

Federal energy and climate minister Chris Bowen on his trip to New York, renewable and emissions targets, and coal closures. Plus: News of the week.

Anna Skarbek from Climateworks Centre on Australia's emissions mission, and the new China targets, while AGL's Jane Butler talks vehicle to grid. Plus: Wind and battery deals.

CCA’s Matt Kean on why target had to be lowered. Plus: Offshore wind pioneer Andy Evans on Victoria’s delayed auction, and a very big battery tender.

CSIRO Chief Research Scientist Pep Canadell on why Australia and the world need to aim high, not low, on its 2035 climate targets. Plus: It's getting weird in Queensland.

SAPN boss Andrew Bills on the challenges of managing the local network in the world's most advanced renewable grid, and where half of all homes have rooftop solar.

AGL boss Damien Nicks discusses how the country's biggest coal generator is managing the transition to renewables, storage and electric homes. Plus: When will another wind farm get finance?

Data centre expert Andrew Walton explains what data centres need, where they might be built, and what will power them. Plus: ESOO, and Checkers the Sheltie.

Hay Shire’s Alison McLean explains how the local community set the rules of engagement to renewable project developers. Plus: Why the big utilities are saying no to wind and solar.

We talk with Tim Nelson and the entire review panel to discuss its recommendations, what comes next and what it does to address market power. Plus: Cheaper batteries!

Nick Carter, the CEO of Akaysha Energy, on the challenges of building the country's biggest battery, its first ever project, and what lies ahead. Plus: A lot more battery news, and Marinus.

Former US Department of Energy Loan Programs Office director Jigar Shah on the opportunities for Australia, Clean Energy Summit digests the supersized CIS, and Kane Thornton breaks from the peloton.

Clean Energy Finance Corp Ian Learmonth on the record commitments in last year, and the need to do a lot more to reach renewable and net zero targets. Plus: News of the week.