Energy Insiders - a RenewEconomy Podcast

15 episodes scanned. 3% of ad slots promote the show's own products.

Recent Episodes

1. Special Episode: The new battery chemistry targeting long duration storage

   Nov 4, 2026

   Henning Rath, CEO of Enervenue, explains the company's nickel hydrogen battery chemistry, which NASA originally developed and which has flown on the Hubble Telescope. He covers Enervenue's focus on non-lithium long duration storage for applications such as petrochemicals, mining, EV charging, data centers, and telecom towers, along with its levelized cost claims, manufacturing plans, and recent funding and expansion.

2. In search of green capital

   Oct 30, 2026

   Claire Elkin, an energy industry executive and advisor with 27 years in the sector, discusses why Australia struggles to attract global capital for its green energy transition. The conversation covers investor return expectations, the limits of the spot market for infrastructure finance, the need for long-term PPAs, and the reliability of price forecasts. The episode also reviews WA's new 75% renewable energy target and other news from the All Energy conference.

3. Fast lane to electric, and Snowy blowouts

   Oct 23, 2026

   Bruce Hardy, executive director of the Energy Futures Foundation, discusses the push to electrify Australian freight and heavy transport. The conversation covers policy levers such as upfront cost support, state-level regulatory barriers to electric trucks, grid connection and charging infrastructure, and the inflationary effects of diesel dependence. The episode also includes a short Snowy Hydro segment with CEO Dennis Barnes on the Snowy 2.0 cost blowout and delays, alongside news items on ARENA-funded projects and wholesale electricity prices.

4. Grid scale sodium batteries are on their way

   Oct 16, 2026

   Valo Energy CEO Peter Fath discusses the battery storage industry's shift toward LFP chemistry, falling storage costs, and emerging sodium-ion technology, along with long-duration storage plans. The conversation also covers Valo's vertical integration strategy, US and European manufacturing, and the company's major Australian projects, including the Eraring battery. Hosts Giles Parkinson and David Leach add industry news on gas peaking plants, wind farm investment, and Australian energy policy.

5. The High Court ruling on climate damage

   Oct 9, 2026

   Sue Higginson, a NSW Greens MLC and former CEO of the Environmental Defenders Office NSW, discusses the High Court ruling on Mount Pleasant coal mine approval. She explains how the court found that the NSW planning system must consider scope 3 (downstream) emissions, and why she thinks this affects the HVO approval and future coal decisions. The conversation also covers the Greens' political strategy and a roundup of NSW energy transition news.

6. Special Episode: Bigger turbines and battery hybrids

   Oct 8, 2026

   Peter Cowling, head of Envision Australia, discusses the Chinese wind turbine maker's entry into the Australian market, including its large Western Australian contracts with Fortescue and Neoen and its plans for grid-forming battery hybrids. The conversation also covers the economics of bigger turbines, transport and crane constraints, lessons from China's industrial parks and renewables build-out, and wind's cost and investment challenges in Australia.

7. Australia's diesel dependence is not normal

   Oct 2, 2026

   Amandine Denis-Ryan from IEEFA discusses Australia's unprecedented diesel dependence, which has grown 2.5x since 2000 while other developed nations are reducing consumption. The conversation covers immediate fuel efficiency opportunities, the barriers and solutions to electrifying heavy transport and mining, policy mechanisms including the Safeguard Mechanism and diesel fuel tax credits, and Australia's declining mining productivity as ore grades decline. Also covered: wind farm delays, the Brigalow gas plant economics, and broader opportunities in green iron and electrification as productivity levers.

8. The off-grid mines leading the charge towards 100 pct renewables

   Sep 25, 2026

   Michael Buzzard, Managing Director of Zenith Energy, discusses the company's remarkable achievements in off-grid mining power operations across Western Australia, where several mines have reached 90%+ renewable energy generation through hybrid wind, solar, and battery systems. Zenith Energy recently achieved a 155-hour continuous renewable-powered operation at Bellevue Gold Mine and is expanding operations at the Kalgoorlie Super Pit with a major 256 MW wind, 138 MW solar, and 300 MWh battery project expected operational in 2028. The conversation covers the technical and economic drivers enabling high renewable penetration in industrial mining loads, including advances in battery storage duration and integrated control systems.

9. The "impossible" wind project that broke the investment drought

   Sep 18, 2026

   John Martin, CEO of Windlab, discusses the financial close of the Gawara Buyer wind project in Queensland—the largest wind farm FID in Australia in two years and the first major project to start construction in the state this year. Martin details the eight-year development journey, the numerous regulatory and financing hurdles overcome, and the innovative hybrid wind-solar-battery design. He also previews Windlab's larger Bungaban project with Rio Tinto and explores opportunities along the proposed Copperstring transmission corridor in North Queensland.

10. Should ageing coal generators be fed carrots or sticks?

    Sep 11, 2026

    David McElrea, newly appointed CEO of the Smart Energy Council, discusses Queensland's obstruction of renewable energy projects and advocates for policy mechanisms to accelerate coal generator closures. He outlines the Smart Energy Council's priorities—distributed energy, commercial and industrial solar, EV charging, and freight electrification—and addresses barriers to residential solar, apartment EV charging, and plug-in battery adoption.