Energy Insiders - a RenewEconomy Podcast

Former regulator Ron Ben David explains why no one wants to go near the gas network "death spiral" - and suggests a solution.

Charles Rattray, the head of Southerly Ten, explains the value of offshore wind as the industry heads towards its first Australian auction. Plus: What do Murray Watt and Anohni and the Johnsons have in common? Nothing, really.

Australian Renewable Energy Agency boss Darren Miller on the path to ultra low cost solar, grid forming inverters, V2G and green hydrogen. Plus: News of the week.

NSW energy minister Penny Sharpe on the challenges in transitioning Australia's biggest coal grid to renewables in 15 years. Plus: News of the week, and new leaders.

Tilt Renewables CEO Anthony Fowler on plans for first giga-scale wind project in NSW, and its first battery projects. Plus: Election washup and NSW grid access rights.

Gas industry veteran Rick Wilkinson from EnergyQuest on the state of play in the market. Plus: Spain's blackout and election day.

The ANU's Jorrit Gosens on China's thirst for green steel and the opportunities for Australia. Plus: News of the week and stranded wind and solar projects.

Zenobe's Gareth Ridge on providing electric trucks as a service, using old batteries and what the grid makes of it all. Plus: News of the week.

Essential Energy COO Luke Jenner on a big leap forward for V2G, courtesy of an electric ute. Plus: LNP blows up renewables target as a coal plant blows up on them, and other news.

One of the world’s biggest energy suppliers has Australia in its sight as it seeks to help electrify the world. Jackie Brown and Aaron Scott explain what technologies are on the menu. This special episode is brought to you by GE Vernova.

Engie's Laura Caspari explains why batteries are paired better with solar than wind, and why data centre load could unlock more renewables. Plus: News of the week.

Ausgrid’s Marc England explains why local networks are preparing their own ISP, and discussed batteries and tariffs. Plus: News of the week.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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’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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Ric Brazzale from Green Energy Markets discusses what’s happening in key markets for renewables, emissions, efficiency and electrification. Plus, news of the week.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Matt Kean on being a private citizen, duelling with Barnaby, rent-seeking on Eraring and pathways to net zero.

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.

ENA chief executive Dominique van den Berg on the hotly contested role that networks can play in distributed resources. Plus, news of the week.

NAB's Andrew Smith on the challenges of raising equity for Australia's renewable energy transition. Plus: News of the week.

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.

Rebecca Colvin from ANU and John Cole from University of Southern Queensland and their takes on obtaining social licence for energy projects, and the lessons from King Island and CSG. Plus, news of the week.

Andy McCarthy on setting up a solar business in the heart of coal country more than a decade ago, when a 1 kW system cost $8,000. And what the industry can learn from that as it struggles for social licence. Plus: News of the week including high prices and farmers walking away from wind.

Doug Lewin, from the Energy Capital podcast in Texas, explains how a massive storm triggered unprecedented investment in solar and storage in the oil state. Plus: News of the week.

What we learned from Ted O'Brien, Chris Bowen and everyone else at the CEC summit. Plus: Hydrostor's Jon Norman on why advanced compressed air storage is beating pumped hydro, and why even nuclear needs lots of storage.

Contractors and developers are struggling with higher costs and projects delays. Matt Rennie joins us to discuss the issue. Plus: News of the week.

Amber Electric’s Chris Thompson on new push to have EVs use their batteries on wheels to support homes and the grid, and play utilities at their own market game. Plus: News of the week.

John Grimes from the Smart Energy Council on China's robo-taxis, and its lead on battery, EVs, solar and hydrogen. Plus: The ISP, Matt Kean and nuclear.

Evergen’s Ben Hutt on optimising solar, batteries, and the race to electrification. Plus: News of the week and the nuclear fallout.

Energy expert Alex Wonhas on designing the new grid, generation choices and using batteries to boost the network. Plus, news of the week.