Energy Unpacked

We’re starting Season 2 with a bang, interviewing the always engaging Dennis Freedman- Managing Director ANZ at Aquila Clean Energy and Board Member for the Clean Energy Council. We love how Dennis simplifies complexity and connects the dots between industry, investors, the market, and regulation. In this episode, we explore: Key elements of successful grid-scale renewable energy projects Different types of players and commercial structures  Factors influencing investment in renewables in Australia Evolving regulations and their impact on the sector, and  The significance of social license  Join us for a fun and insightful discussion as we unpack these critical themes 🌱🔋 You can learn more about Aquila Clean Energy here https://www.aquila-clean-energy-apac.com, and connect with the Clean Energy Council at https://cleanenergycouncil.org.au/.

We're back with Season 2 of Energy Unpacked! This podcast is all about breaking down topics related to the Australian Energy Transition, a transition from a fossil-fuel-dependent and centralised energy system to a decentralised renewable-based one.  In Season 2, your co-hosts Bronte Wilson and Adam White, we will be interviewing industry experts on a range of topics including Virtual Power Plants (VPPs), EV charging and EV sharing , next-generation solar & long-duration storage, grid-scale project development and much more. If you’re passionate about climate change or the energy industry or just want to learn more about the Energy Transition please plug in.

This week we speak to social scientist Dr Hedda Ransan-Cooper about her insights on community batteries and DER as it relates to residential customers. Hedda leads the social science program within the Battery Storage and Grid Integration Program (BSGIP) at ANU.We explore what differentiates a community battery from other battery projects, and community expectations around the problems these batteries should solve/ services they should provide. Hedda also highlights some of the issues and risks associated with an energy system relying on customer owned DER. Learn more about Hedda’s research here: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/359314754_Neighbourhood_batteries_in_Australia_Anticipating_questions_of_value_conflict_and_injustice, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/372597082_Community_perspectives_on_microgrids_and_resilience_in_the_Eurobodalla_Australia and connect here https://au.linkedin.com/in/hedda-ransan-cooper-ba334a12

It seems fitting to round out one of our last episodes of this season with a call for more people to join the energy industry as we embark on a once in a lifetime transition. There is no shortage of work required to decarbonise our electricity grid, but there are shortages in the people and skills required to do that work. In this conversation we provide an overview of this looming problem, the drivers, and potential solutions. Sources used in the creation of the episode include: 2021 Infrastructure Market Capacity Reporthttps://www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/publications/2021-infrastructure-market-capacity-report https://www.ncver.edu.au/research-and-statistics 2022 Local Government Workforce Skills and Capability Surveyhttps://alga.com.au/app/uploads/LG-Workforce-Skills-and-Capability-Survey-National-Report.pdf E3 Fast track The Australian Electricity Workforce for the 2022 Integrated System Plan: Projections to 2050.Revision 1.https://aemo.com.au/-/media/files/major-publications/isp/2022/supporting-materials/the-australian-electricity-workforce-for-the-2022-isp.pdf