Energy Insiders - a RenewEconomy Podcast - podcast cover

Energy Insiders - a RenewEconomy Podcast

RenewEconomyreneweconomy.com.au
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.
Last refreshed:
Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.
Download Metacast podcast app
Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episodes

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.

Jan 22, 20261 hr 12 min

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.

Dec 23, 202549 min

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.

Dec 12, 202558 min

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.

Dec 04, 20251 hr

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.

Dec 01, 20251 hr 1 min

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?

Nov 21, 20251 hr 8 min

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.

Nov 13, 20251 hr

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.

Nov 07, 20251 hr 5 min

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.

Oct 24, 202544 min

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.

Oct 16, 20251 hr 3 min

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.

Oct 10, 20251 hr 1 min

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.

Sep 26, 20251 hr 10 min

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.

Sep 12, 20251 hr 5 min

"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.

Sep 05, 202559 min

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?

Aug 29, 20251 hr 1 min

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.

Aug 22, 20251 hr 1 min

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.

Aug 15, 202555 min

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!

Aug 08, 20251 hr 3 min

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.

Aug 04, 20251 hr 1 min

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.

Jul 31, 20251 hr 5 min

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.

Jul 28, 202556 min

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.

Jul 18, 20251 hr 4 min

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.

Jul 11, 202558 min

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.

Jul 04, 202558 min

The changing dynamics of battery storage

Pacific Green’s Joel Alexander on getting some of Australia’s biggest batteries to market. Plus: SEC’s Wayne Smith unplugs, and news of the week.

Jun 27, 20251 hr 11 min

All about electric planes

Aviation expert Adam Twidell talks electric planes, what's flying and what is coming. Plus: News of the week.

Jun 20, 202559 min

Changing the grid, one Tesla battery at a time

In an exclusive interview, Tesla Energy boss Josef Tadich discusses the extraordinary progress made since the first big battery at Hornsdale, and why the technology is already there to support Australia's charge towards 100 per cent renewables.

Jun 11, 202555 min
For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android