Is there a cheaper way to host wind and solar?
Ausgrid’s Marc England explains why local networks are preparing their own ISP, and discussed batteries and tariffs. Plus: News of the week.
Energy Insiders - a RenewEconomy Podcast
Join RenewEconomy founder and editor Giles Parkinson and columnist and energy markets expert David Leitch as they discuss the week's main events - politics, solar and storage.
Episodes
The tipping point in solar and battery storage
Quinbrook's David Scaysbrook says the falling cost of solar and battery storage represents a tipping point for the energy industry. Plus: Big battery tender, gas and hydrogen news.
Donald Trump’s war on climate, energy and science
Former US climate envoy Jonathan Pershing discusses Donald Trump’s war on everything, including climate, energy, science and research, and Australia’s energy choices. Plus: Rio Tinto’s stunning choice of solar and batteries to save future of giant smelters.
The low down on grid and EV batteries
Battery expert Iola Hughes from Rho Motion on the latest trends, developments and date on grid and EV batteries. Plus: Quinbrook looks to 8-hour storage with big solar battery plans.
Special Episode: Australia’s green hydrogen hope
Hydrogen Australia’s David Cavanagh looks at the barriers and opportunities for Australia’s green hydrogen industry, and the demand push from local and overseas industry. This special podcast episode is sponsored by Energy Exchange Australia.
Market changes could come quickly
Tim Nelson discusses some options being considered by the NEM market review panel, and why his home battery is front of mind. Plus: Big news for pumped hydro and falling storage costs.
Why is the green energy transition made to sound so hard?
Climate 200's Simon Holmes a Court on the upcoming election, the role of independents, lessons from Trump, the nuclear boosters, and why we made the energy transition sound too hard.
Are renewables back on track?
New data suggests renewable connections, commitments and commissioning are getting back to where they need to be to meet 2030 targets. CEC's Kane Thornton explains. Plus: AGL and Origin's big bets on batteries.
Energy industry gets ready for election
John Grimes from the Smart Energy Council discusses what's on agenda ahead of federal poll, and as SEC celebrates its 70th anniversary. Plus: Energy news of the week.
"I don’t know if we can adapt”
WMO’s climate and energy lead Roberta Boscolo on the latest climate report, the 1.55°C average temperature rise and heating oceans. Plus: A wrap of the news in our first podcast of 2025.
Chris Bowen on renewables, emissions, EVs, and nuclear
In our last episode of the year, federal energy and climate minister Chris Bowen joins us to discuss the CIS, climate targets, EVs, the agenda for 2025, and the Coalition's nuclear plan.
Dutton’s high stakes, low sense nuclear plan
In this episode we take a quick look at the Coalition’s nuclear plan and its costings. Not much of it makes sense. Plus: The other news of the week.
CSIRO slaps down Coalition nuclear power play
CSIRO’s Paul Graham on the findings of the latest GenCost report, which proves yet again that integrated renewables are by far the lowest cost option, even after responding to all the Coalition complaints about its modelling methods.
Solar is not the enemy
Solar researchers held their annual conference in Sydney this week, with the focus on improved efficiency, grid integration, recycling and social equity. Monash University's Roger Dargaville explains. Plus: News of the week.
Getting the best out of the grid
Energy expert Gabrielle Kuiper on getting the best out of distributed energy resources in the new market design and as coal exits the grid. Plus, news of the week.
Changing the rules of the energy game
The rules of Australia's main electricity grid are constantly changing. Should they be completely rewritten? AEMC commissioner Tim Jordan discusses the state of play. Plus: News of the week.
Why batteries on wheels will be the next big thing
V2G technology, turning EVs into batteries on wheels, will be big – for drivers, households and the grid. Jon Sibley from enX explains why. Plus: News of the week.
Trump is back, and the frog is still boiling
Donald Trump is back. Richie Merzian from the CEIG joins the podcast to discuss the likely impact on climate efforts, COP29, and the outlook in Australia as its big renewable tender is accelerated.
How to replace gas
The gas industry says we need more of the fossil fuel to prosper. Jarrod Leak, from the Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity, says that’s not true, and there are alternatives. Plus: News of the week.
From zero to renewable hero in 20 years
Simon Emms from transmission company Electranet explains how the state has moved so quickly towards 100 per cent net renewables, and why so much industry wants to plug in. Plus: All Energy buzzes while gas lobby bleats.
The trouble with markets
Ric Brazzale from Green Energy Markets discusses what’s happening in key markets for renewables, emissions, efficiency and electrification. Plus, news of the week.
A spring full of renewable and battery records
Renewable records continue to tumble, while a big battery helps solve one of the grid's main challenges. Julius Susanto from Ampere Labs joins us to explain. Plus: Lots of big wind stories.
Even hydro is moving beyond baseload
Retiring Hydro Tasmania CEO Ian Brooksbank reflects on the changing nature of grids, the role of hydro, Battery of the Nation and building wind farms in the right place. Plus: Shutting down coal.
How to get demand response out of the grid
Carl Hutchinson, the country manager of Enel X, on the difficulties of getting demand response on Australia’s main grid, despite its obvious benefits. Plus: News of the week.
The end of baseload
AEMO chief executive Daniel Westerman explains why Australia is shifting from the old paradigm of "baseload" power, and why he still wants spinning machines. Plus: News of the week.
Rent-seeking and net zero
Matt Kean on being a private citizen, duelling with Barnaby, rent-seeking on Eraring and pathways to net zero.
The rapidly changing climate
Climate expert Lesley Hughes on the recent weather extremes and the impact on biodiversity, and people. Plus: News of the week including the first big CIS tender.
Should networks be more than poles and wires?
ENA chief executive Dominique van den Berg on the hotly contested role that networks can play in distributed resources. Plus, news of the week.
The search for equity
NAB's Andrew Smith on the challenges of raising equity for Australia's renewable energy transition. Plus: News of the week.
Managing the trauma of grid expansion
VicGrid CEO Alastair Parker has a job some would not envy, managing the planning of transmission lines and renewable zones in the state of Victoria. He joins the podcast to talk about transmission routes, battery storage, the option of going underground, and where things went wrong on social licence. Plus, the news of the week including windfall profits for all the big utilities.