Energy Insiders - a RenewEconomy Podcast artwork

Energy Insiders - a RenewEconomy Podcast

342 episodes - English - Latest episode: 1 day ago - ★★★★★ - 12 ratings

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.

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Episodes

Managing solar ducks in the middle of Australia

March 27, 2024 09:16 - 1 hour - 86.4 MB

Can Alice Springs switch off fossil fuels in the middle of the day? Lyndon Frearson from Ekistica on the options and lessons for the NEM. Plus: Eraring and NVES.

Would you trust your utility to control your solar?

March 20, 2024 04:23 - 54 minutes - 74.6 MB

Monash Uni’s Yolande Strengers and Kari Dahlgren on one of the big challenges of the energy transition - trust. Plus, all the news of the week in this nuclear free podcast.

Australia’s biggest smelters flick switch to wind and solar

March 13, 2024 04:04 - 50 minutes - 69.6 MB

Rio Tinto’s Vik Selvaraja on why Australia’s biggest smelters - and biggest single energy consumers - are choosing wind and solar. Plus: Coalition’s nuclear nonsense.

The push for coal to play off the bench

February 29, 2024 23:34 - 50 minutes - 69.4 MB

EnergyAustralia CEO Mark Collette on coal as a reserve asset, the uncertainty of Yallourn, the challenge of green hydrogen, and just managing the transition.

The boom in wind energy

February 22, 2024 03:57 - 53 minutes - 73.3 MB

GE global wind boss Steve Swift on landmark supply deal with Andrew Forrest. Plus: Rio Tinto plans Australia’s biggest wind farm to power smelters. And Littleproud’s Barnaby moment.

Podcast special: How to make offshore wind work in Australia

February 20, 2024 03:48 - 1 hour - 92.9 MB

We talk to three industry experts on offshore wind as part of the Locking in the Green Energy Transition podcast series sponsored by Norton Rose Fulbright.

The battery domino effect

February 14, 2024 04:40 - 1 hour - 88 MB

Daan Walter from RMI on the phenomenal growth of battery storage. Plus: Victoria blackouts, Eraring, and the rabble against renewables.

Renewable energy barriers and curtailment

February 07, 2024 00:59 - 39 minutes - 54.2 MB

Dylan McConnell discusses the benefits of the Capacity Investment Scheme, its impact on prices and how the market should pay for spilled energy.

The climate crisis and the energy transition

January 24, 2024 02:43 - 53 minutes - 72.9 MB

Berkeley Earth’s Robert Rohde discusses the latest climate science and whether even 2°C is achievable. Plus: All the renewable and storage news from the first few weeks of 2024.

AEMO’s blueprint for wind, solar and storage

December 20, 2023 02:04 - 1 hour - 82.7 MB

AEMO’s head of system design Merryn York on the draft 2024 Integrated System Plan. Plus: The big NSW tender, and battery storage everywhere. And a few tips for 2024.

Will Chris Bowen’s capacity scheme actually work?

December 15, 2023 03:57 - 45 minutes - 62.7 MB

Baringa’s Anne Bailey talks about the Capacity Investment Mechanism and what’s needed to make it work. Plus: AEMO’s 2024 ISP, the COP28 results, and energy ministers and coal plants.

Victoria’s SEC and its first big battery play

December 08, 2023 01:05 - 46 minutes - 63.5 MB

Vic SEC boss Chris Miller on the state-owned corporation’s first big battery play, and what’s next. Plus: All the news of the week.

Macquarie marches in to Australian renewables

December 01, 2023 00:28 - 56 minutes - 77.5 MB

Macquarie marches in to Australian renewables by RenewEconomy

AI, inverters and a smarter grid

November 28, 2023 23:47 - 47 minutes - 86.9 MB

Kate Muller from Norton Rose Fulbright talks with Habitat’s Ben Irons and colleague Nick Abrahams on the role AI will play in a grid making switch from spinning machines to inverter-based tech.

Bowen's capacity scheme, and NSW's "free" batteries

November 24, 2023 04:20 - 46 minutes - 64.4 MB

Brad Hopkins, from AEMO Services, discusses the successful battery storage tender in NSW that could serve as a blueprint for Chris Bowen's massive 32 GW capacity scheme.

State of confusion

November 17, 2023 03:42 - 32 minutes - 44.1 MB

Confusing new wind guidelines in NSW as coal state runs short of spinning machines. Plus: Origin battle intensifies as Tesla throws down energy gauntlet

Wind, solar, batteries and pumps

November 10, 2023 04:13 - 38 minutes - 53.3 MB

Genex is succeeding where others feared to tread, with a new big battery, the first pumped hydro project in four decades, and massive wind, solar and storage plans. CEO Craig Francis explains how.

The end of spinning machines

October 31, 2023 02:13 - 50 minutes - 69.2 MB

Ivor Frischknecht, now head of Sosteneo, talks about the new battery that signals the end of the need for spinning machines, and a clear path to 100 per cent renewables. Plus: All Energy and Joyce.

South Australia's big move into green hydrogen

October 23, 2023 00:50 - 42 minutes - 57.7 MB

State energy minister Tom Koutsantonis discusses green hydrogen plan, filling the "gap" on renewables, transmission, storage and prices.

Australia’s methane problem

October 20, 2023 04:13 - 55 minutes - 76.1 MB

Methane expert Peter Rayner on Australia’s potent climate problem, and a solution. Plus: Origin’s black hole, Genex deals and big battery bids.

Social licence in the regions

October 13, 2023 02:33 - 59 minutes - 82.3 MB

We talk to three people in regional Australia dealing with renewable and transmission projects about the issue of social licence. Plus: Brookfield’s big win.

What price Marinus?

October 06, 2023 04:10 - 50 minutes - 69.4 MB

We talk to Caroline Wykamp and Prajit Parameswar from Marinus Link. Plus: Spring renewables surge delivers low prices, new records, and a push for more storage.

Net Zero by 2035

September 22, 2023 01:18 - 45 minutes - 63 MB

Katherine Woodthorpe, from the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, on why Australia should fast-track its net zero ambitions. Plus: The nuclear debate and renewable records.

The end of baseload in world’s biggest standalone grid

September 15, 2023 00:24 - 52 minutes - 71.9 MB

Jai Thomas, the co-ordinator of energy in Western Australia, on that state’s massive renewable plans, the end of baseload, and the rise of big batteries. Plus: News of the week.

Coal-keeper or Green-keeper?

September 06, 2023 04:52 - 26 minutes - 36.8 MB

NSW energy minister Penny Sharpe discusses Eraring closure, fast tracking renewables and consumer equity: Plus, Marinus blow out and Queensland green hydrogen plans.

Locking in the Green Energy Transition

September 05, 2023 00:48 - 43 minutes - 59.6 MB

Essential Energy CEO John Cleland says distributed networks can accelerate the switch to renewables. And he discusses cultural change, rooftop solar and EVs.

Out with coal, in with EVs

September 01, 2023 04:12 - 53 minutes - 73.2 MB

EnergyAustralia boss Mark Collette on how he will make sure the company’s last coal generator will not get in the way of the renewable transition, and why he went electric.

Are heat batteries the next big thing?

August 25, 2023 03:52 - 46 minutes - 64.4 MB

Tom Geiser from Rondo Energy puts the case for heat batteries and their role in hard to abate sectors. Plus: Coal giants get a taxpayer funded lifeline.

Wind, solar and social licence

August 16, 2023 05:42 - 55 minutes - 76.9 MB

Behavioural scientist John Pickering on the challenges of getting social licence for wind, solar, battery and transmission projects. Plus: What’s big coal up to?

What Australia can learn from Uncle IRA

August 09, 2023 03:13 - 58 minutes - 79.7 MB

Energy commentator David Roberts on Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, partisan politics and some exciting new technologies. Plus: This week’s major news.

Australia's biggest agri-solar and battery project

August 04, 2023 04:50 - 49 minutes - 67.5 MB

Luke Osborne from Stride Renewables on the happy marriage of farming, solar and battery storage, and why community outreach works.

The path to net zero for industry

July 28, 2023 01:08 - 55 minutes - 76.2 MB

Anna Skarbek from Cimateworks on why renewables will play central role in getting big industry to net zero. First, the grid. Plus: Big battery boom.

Landmark green hydrogen deal with traditional landowners

July 18, 2023 04:22 - 48 minutes - 66.9 MB

Pollination’s Rob Grant and Balinggarra’s Cissy Gore-Birch on landmark green hydrogen project around Ord River. Plus: To close or not to close coal.

Chris Bowen on climate and renewable targets

July 11, 2023 05:33 - 38 minutes - 53.2 MB

Federal climate and energy minister Chris Bowen defends targets as ambitious and achievable, as he prepares to announce Hunter offshore wind zone and roll out capacity mechanism and fuel efficiency standards.

Hottest day, hottest week, hottest month

July 07, 2023 05:52 - 39 minutes - 54.2 MB

Kimberley Reid from Monash Uni talks about the temperature records being smashed this past week. Plus: Project delays and a new hydrogen strategy.

BlackRock’s big play, and 12-hour batteries

June 30, 2023 04:39 - 48 minutes - 67.1 MB

BlackRock’s Charlie Reid on the fund manager’s big plans for Australia, and Allegro’s Thomas Nann on the innovative 12-hour flow battery that Origin is trialling.

Australia’s rise as an electro-state

June 23, 2023 02:51 - 53 minutes - 73.7 MB

Alan Finkel on Australia’s potential to emerge as an “electro-state” with its wind and solar resources, and his Powering Up book. Plus: More big battery deals.

From brown coal to big batteries

June 16, 2023 03:13 - 37 minutes - 51.9 MB

We talk to Daniel Burrows from Eku Energy on new Hazelwood battery, the first at a coal generator, and the first to be wholly privately funded. Plus: AGL’s incrementalism and Queensland’s deep storage plunge.

Australia’s grid needs a 1.5°C target

June 09, 2023 03:21 - 53 minutes - 73.8 MB

Stephanie Bashir from Nexa Advisory on why setting a firm target of 1.5°C for the electricity grid would help solve regulatory and other blockages to new renewables. Plus: News of the week.

Can NSW quit coal?

June 01, 2023 04:50 - 51 minutes - 71.3 MB

James Hay and Andrew Kingsmill from EnergyCo discuss the infrastructure roadmap towards 100% renewables. Plus: Sun Cable, Callide and more news.

How to connect wind, solar and batteries

May 26, 2023 03:41 - 46 minutes - 64.3 MB

Clean Energy Council’s Christiaan Zuur on the work being done to cut delays and costs for grid connections. Plus: NSW releases roadmap to coal-free grid.

Are we too focused on big energy?

May 19, 2023 04:34 - 43 minutes - 59.6 MB

Transmission links are front and centre of the energy debate, but Enphase co-founder Raghu Belur says more focus should be on what is consumed and produced at home.

EVs and big batteries on the march

May 12, 2023 04:06 - 53 minutes - 72.9 MB

William Todts, the head of Transport and Environment, on the accelerating EV transition in Europe. Plus: Australia to have a new biggest battery.

Batteries and pumped hydro fight over coal succession plan

May 02, 2023 05:35 - 46 minutes - 64.1 MB

Brad Hopkins from AEMO Services discusses the stunning results of the first NSW generation and storage tender, and what it means for the market.

In love with wind, solar and batteries

April 27, 2023 03:20 - 50 minutes - 69 MB

Louis de Sambucy, the head of Neoen in Australia, on why wind, solar and battery projects are getting bigger and more complex.

Sims to lead Superpower info war

April 21, 2023 03:05 - 46 minutes - 64 MB

Former competition czar Rod Sims emerges as chair of Superpower Institute, promoting Australia’s low cost green energy opportunity, and fighting the info war. Plus: Big battery boom.

Wind and solar deal killer blow to fossil fuels

April 13, 2023 23:59 - 45 minutes - 62.8 MB

Dave Jones from Ember Climate on new study that shows fossil fuel generation will finally peak this year. Plus: Macquarie makes its mark on battery market.

Smarter grid means a cleaner grid

April 06, 2023 01:40 - 51 minutes - 70.8 MB

Energy Efficiency Council's Rob Murray-Leach on landmark report on new ways of thinking about the grid. Meanwhile, new NSW energy minister worries about lights going out.

How big will offshore wind be?

March 27, 2023 03:55 - 47 minutes - 64.6 MB

Corio CEO Jonathan Cole on big turbines and even bigger offshore wind plans. Plus. Matt Kean and busted coal.

Moving wind and solar through time and space

March 23, 2023 02:54 - 56 minutes - 77.5 MB

Powerlink’s Paul Simshauser on how the Sunshine state will transform into a renewables powerhouse for the grid. Plus: Safeguards and the IPCC.