Energy Insiders - a RenewEconomy Podcast

Recent Episodes

1. Is Australia on target for a “step change” in energy?

   Jul 17, 2026

   Nicola Falcon, head of system design at the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), discusses the latest Integrated System Plan (ISP), now in its fifth iteration since 2018. The conversation covers Australia's progress toward the 82% renewable energy target by 2030, the dramatic growth of grid-scale battery storage and home batteries (450,000+ installed), the impact of data center demand on grid planning, electric vehicle electrification and vehicle-to-grid potential, and technical challenges around system strength and protection systems needed to operate the grid at 100% renewables.

2. Electric truck network starts to take shape

   Jul 10, 2026

   Anthony Headlam, CEO of NewVolt, discusses the company's plans to build a nationwide fast-charging network for electric trucks in Australia, starting with three sites in Melbourne. Backed by a $25 million ARENA grant (with $10 million dedicated to fleet support), NewVolt is working to de-risk the business case for heavy freight electrification by combining charging infrastructure with financing solutions and fleet partnerships. The conversation covers truck availability from OEMs like Volvo and Chinese manufacturers, total cost of ownership challenges, grid infrastructure requirements, and the critical role of high-utilization use cases in making the economics work.

3. Solar and batteries good, wind is hard

   Jun 25, 2026

   Energy Insiders episode featuring hosts Giles Parkinson and David Leach discussing Australia's Integrated System Plan 2026, wind energy deployment challenges, and David's observations from a renewable energy development trip to China. Key topics include transmission costs, the ISP's call for 60 GW of wind and solar by 2035, wind project delays in the Capacity Investment Scheme, state budget allocations for energy transition, and comparisons between Chinese and Australian renewable infrastructure approaches.

4. The problem with network tariffs

   Jun 19, 2026

   Anna Koya, head of the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC), discusses the AEMC's comprehensive pricing review and proposed reforms to electricity network tariffs. The episode covers the complexity of modern energy bills, the rise of rooftop solar and battery storage as 'customer energy resources,' network tariff design, and recommendations to improve simplicity, fairness, and transparency for consumers. Koya explains how dynamic tariffs can reward battery owners while protecting vulnerable customers from bill shock.

5. "The grid doesn't need rotating mass"

   Jun 11, 2026

   Jürgen Reinhold, Global CEO of SMA Group, discusses the German inverter manufacturer's evolution from a residential solar pioneer to a utility-scale renewable energy leader. He explains how SMA has repositioned itself in response to Chinese competition, now generating 80% of revenue from large-scale applications. Reinhold addresses critical grid stability issues, including grid-forming inverter capabilities, fault current management, and the feasibility of 100% renewable grids with storage and intelligent power electronics.

6. Tesla Energy boss on energy abundance, EVs, V2G and big and small batteries

   Jun 4, 2026

   Joseph Tadich, regional director for Tesla Energy in Asia Pacific, discusses energy abundance through the lens of the Kardashev scale and humanity's ability to harness solar energy. The conversation covers Australia's rapid EV adoption (now 20% of new car sales), the efficiency gains from electrifying transport, grid-scale and distributed battery storage opportunities, vehicle-to-load and vehicle-to-grid technology, and the regulatory and market design changes needed to unlock distributed energy resources across the NEM.

7. Plugging the holes in EV charging

   May 29, 2026

   Tim Washington, co-founder and CEO of Jet Charge, discusses Australia's EV charging infrastructure challenges and opportunities. The conversation covers the gap between Australia's low public charger-to-EV ratio (1:50 vs. global best practice of 1:10), the economics of charging networks, satellite charging systems, ultra-fast charging with battery storage (700-800 kW), and policy recommendations for a cohesive national EV strategy. Washington emphasizes the need for reliability standards, interoperability, and designing infrastructure for future charging speeds while balancing utilization economics.

8. Will data centres break the grid?

   May 22, 2026

   Keith Milton, founder of Middleton Group (now part of the Fife Group), discusses the rapidly growing data center industry in Australia and its implications for the electricity grid. The episode explores whether data centers will destabilize the grid or accelerate Australia's renewable energy transition, examining grid connection requirements, the role of battery storage, backup generation needs, and the competitive advantages Australia offers hyperscale data center operators.

9. Budget's fossil fail, and how to fix the CIS

   May 14, 2026

   Tim Buckley from Climate and Energy Finance joins Giles Parkinson and David Leach to discuss the Australian federal budget's failures on climate and energy policy. The episode critiques missed opportunities in decarbonization investment, fossil fuel subsidies, and the Contracts for Difference scheme (CIS), while analyzing capital gains tax changes, renewable energy infrastructure funding, and the need for faster approvals and grid modernization.

10. The man who saved solar and helped kill coal

    May 8, 2026

    John Grimes, departing CEO of the Smart Energy Council after 18 years, discusses his legacy leading Australia's renewable energy transition and his upcoming role as chair of the Asia Pacific Renewable Energy Council and incoming chair of the Global Solar Council. The episode covers his pivotal role in protecting solar from political attacks, the evolution of rooftop solar from 200 MW to 45 GW installed capacity, the success of Australia's home battery scheme, and the opportunities for rapid energy transition in Asia-Pacific regions like Bangladesh and Indonesia.