PODCAST · news
Energy Insiders - a RenewEconomy Podcast
by RenewEconomy
Join Renew Economy founder and editor-in-chief Giles Parkinson and columnist and energy markets expert David Leitch as they discuss the week's main events - politics, solar and storage.
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450
Solar and batteries good, wind is hard
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.
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449
The problem with network tariffs
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.
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448
"The grid doesn't need rotating mass"
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.
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447
Tesla Energy boss on energy abundance, EVs, V2G and big and small batteries
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.
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446
Plugging the holes in EV charging
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.
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445
Will data centres break the grid?
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.
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444
Budget's fossil fail, and how to fix the CIS
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.
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443
The man who saved solar and helped kill coal
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.
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442
Electric trucks are profitable, but diesel struggles
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.
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441
Chris Bowen on renewable target, wind delays, EVs and electrification
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.
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440
Batteries take centre stage as world wrestles with fuel crisis
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?
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439
Why wind projects are stalled at the gate
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.
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438
Is fuel rationing inevitable?
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!
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437
The remarkable story of Australia's first community-owned solar farm
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.
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436
Why batteries are the answer to nearly everything
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.
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435
How the world's fourth biggest economy plans to reach 100 pct clean energy
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.
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434
The revolution in electric trucking
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.
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433
Special episode: How to close down oil and gas
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.
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432
China’s clean energy surge reshapes coal, oil and the grid
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.
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431
The rise of the flexible grid: How industry, AI and data centres are reshaping demand
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.
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430
Why batteries are getting bigger and marrying solar
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.
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429
Malcolm Turnbull on hydro, LNP, One Nation and Trump
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.
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428
"We are not all crazy" - the climate and clean energy battle in Trumps's America
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.
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427
Our oceans are heating and we are still burning coal
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.
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426
Is the wind drought over?
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.
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425
A blueprint to quit coal, and go green
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.
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424
No spin needed for renewable gold rush
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.
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423
Origin CEO Frank Calabria's big energy vision
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.
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422
Are Labor's environmental laws any good?
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?
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421
Where the bloody hell is our super?
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.
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420
The future of wind energy
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.
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419
Social licence in New England, and a sea of household batteries
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.
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418
Data centres, batteries, gas and SMRs
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.
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417
Fortescue's bold charge to real zero by 2030
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.
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416
Managing the backbone of the grid
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.
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415
Chris Bowen on coal, renewables, EVs and UN
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.
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414
Australia, China and a big week for V2G
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.
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413
Is Australia’s emissions target good enough?
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.
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412
Time to go "full sail" on decarbonisation
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.
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411
"We had to innovate to survive"
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.
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410
AGL's struggle with coal
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?
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409
Data centres and the grid
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.
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408
Regional communities and the renewable gold rush
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.
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407
Lifting the lid on the Nelson Review
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!
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406
The making of Australia's biggest battery
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.
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405
What is Australia going to do now?
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.
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404
Greasing the wheels of net zero
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.
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403
Lily D'Ambrosio and the fight against vested interests
Victoria energy minister Lily D'Ambrosio talks about electrification, gas, transmission links, renewable zones, offshore wind and coal closures - and battling vested interests. Plus: News of the week.
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402
Why we need more big batteries
Alex Wonhas, head of new battery developer AMPYR, discusses his company's first big project, and why wind struggles will require more big batteries on the grid. Plus: News of the week.
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401
Australia's new green bank
Cameron O'Reilly, the new chair of the Energy Security Corp, discusses plans for Australia's newest green bank. Plus: News of the week.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Join Renew Economy founder and editor-in-chief Giles Parkinson and columnist and energy markets expert David Leitch as they discuss the week's main events - politics, solar and storage.
HOSTED BY
RenewEconomy
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