The Time is Now report shows that there are opportunities within the distribution grid that can be unlocked and enabled now, to deliver more benefits for customers.

Related article: Champion of change: Dominique van den Berg

Energy Networks Australia CEO Dom van den Berg said we must look beyond the traditional role of distribution networks as just poles and wires.

“Findings show that if we act now to get the distribution grid doing more heavy lifting, customers can save around $160 per year and avoid $7 billion in overall system costs in 2030 alone. The nation will also be better positioned to achieve its 82% renewables target by 2030,” she said.

“We absolutely need to make sure we are pulling all levers. That includes keeping focused on the large-scale renewable projects and the vital transmission infrastructure we need to connect them. While we do that, it also makes good sense to do everything we can at a local level to bring down bills and provide more services to customers.

“We must get smarter with how we use existing infrastructure, how we maximise rooftop solar, how and where we store and manage it locally, and how we get more EV chargers in more places.

“There is a clear opportunity to get the local grid doing more of the heavy lifting in the energy transition and achieve greater savings for customers by 2030, but that window of opportunity is closing.”

The report calls for changes that can be delivered today through the right policy decisions, and fit-for-purpose regulatory settings. The recommendations include:

1. Link local energy hubs by linking locally-generated solar with unused capacity in the grid to operate as ‘local energy hubs’ for all the community to benefit from.
2. Amplify untapped solar opportunities by introducing incentives for large commercial properties to install more solar panels on existing rooftops and share it with the local community.
3. Soak up the surplus solar by having large batteries attached to the existing grid infrastructure so that local customers get the full benefits of solar and grid connected batteries.
4. Plug in more EV chargers by enabling networks to install and maintain kerbside (power poles) charging at pace to put more chargers in more places, ensuring an equitable rollout of chargers and reducing customers’ range anxiety.
5. Sync with the grid by connecting and coordinating all energy resources so that we better utilise our existing poles and wires, while maximising the benefits to customers.

The Time is Now features extensive modelling by independent experts L.E.K. Consulting. Modelling scenarios show that individual actions deliver customer benefits, but a combination of these actions would deliver even more benefits.

Related article: “Batteries on wheels”: EVs bolster power grid during blackout

The post Report highlights distribution grid’s potential in transition appeared first on Energy Source & Distribution.

ZEN Energy will supply SBS’s New South Wales and Victoria-based operations with 100% renewable energy over the next 10 years with Large-scale Generation Certificates (LGCs) uniquely paired with the 226.8MW Collector Wind Farm in NSW.

Related article: ZEN proposes 1GW Western Sydney Pumped Hydro project

SBS is the first Australian media organisation to switch to 100% renewable energy in FY23. This commitment will now be achieved over the long term through the 10-year agreement with ZEN.

SBS has set the most ambitious target of any Australian media outlet, to reach net zero across scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions by 2045. SBS has also partnered with Scope3 to measure emissions from advertising technology, affording advertising clients greater transparency of carbon emissions from their advertising campaigns.

ZEN was Australia’s first energy company to commit to the global Science-based Targets initiative for corporate action on climate change. SBS has also applied to have its net zero targets validated by the initiative.

RATCH-Australia’s Collector Wind Farm commenced full operations in 2021 and consists of 54 turbines collectively producing 528GWh each year, capable of powering 80,000 NSW homes and saving close to 320,000 tonnes of CO2 emission each year. The wind farm project has also involved an industry-leading community benefit sharing scheme.

Related article: Flow Power inks solar PPA with Asahi and BaptistCare

SBS head of sustainability Abigail Thomas said, “This 10-year agreement with ZEN Energy through wind power ensures that SBS’s commitment to carbon reduction is not just a short-term initiative but a long-term strategy.

“By securing a decade of 100% renewable energy, we are taking significant steps towards our net zero targets and demonstrating our dedication to sustainability efforts and innovation in Australia’s media sector.”

The post SBS becomes Australia’s first 100% renewable broadcaster appeared first on Energy Source & Distribution.

Around 1,600 ETU members have voted in favour of a range of industrial actions across Sydney and parts of regional New South Wales starting from August 1, claiming Ausgrid has refused to agree to a wage increase that recognises the rise in the cost of living.

Related article: Transgrid and Endeavour Energy workers begin 24-hour strike

While emergency work will not be affected by the action, households and businesses could experience maintenance delays and other inconveniences unless Ausgrid offers workers a payrise that helps them keep up with the soaring cost of living.

Ausgrid is the third major power company in NSW in a dispute about giving workers the pay and conditions they deserve, joining Transgrid and Endeavour Energy.

ETU NSW/ACT Secretary Allen Hicks said, “The millions of Australians who rely on the east coast’s largest electricity distributor should be alarmed to learn how Ausgrid is treating its staff, who keep their power running and their lights on day in and day out,” he said.

“Ausgrid’s insulting pay offer has left workers with no choice but to launch industrial action including work stoppages.

“ETU members haven’t yet received an offer that will allow them to keep up with cost of living increases. They have no choice but to continue to exercise their legal right to withdraw their labour until they get an offer that doesn’t send their wages backwards.”

An Ausgrid spokesperson told Energy Source & Distribution, “Ausgrid is disappointed by the Electrical Trade Union’s decision to reject an offer of a new Enterprise Agreement and undertake protected industrial action.

“On 12 July, Ausgrid put forward a strong offer as part of our Enterprise Agreement renewal. Our three-year offer includes a first-year increase of 7% plus 0.5 % super increase, a second-year increase of 2.7% (or CPI if it is higher) plus 0.5% super increase and a third-year increase of 2.7% (or CPI if it is higher). Ausgrid already provides superannuation at 15.5% per annum. This offer will take our super contribution to Enterprise Agreement employees to 16.5% in year 2. Further, our offer maintains all conditions with a number of added enhancements.”

Ausgrid group executive of people and culture Celina Cross said the wage offer was fair and reasonable.

“We respect the rights of the ETU, however, we are disappointed this action has been taken,” she said.

Related article: Ausgrid switches on new community battery in Warriewood

“Our offer is fair and reasonable for our people and affordable for communities we serve.
“It recognises cost of living pressures and rewards our people for their hard work. In addition, it ensures Ausgrid remains a great place to work where safety is our priority.

“Ausgrid continues to hold weekly discussions in good faith with all parties to reach an agreement.”

The post Ausgrid union workers to strike this week over pay appeared first on Energy Source & Distribution.

Pre-paid metering is mandated in many regional and remote Aboriginal communities and is associated with a high rate of disconnections and energy insecurity. Consumer protections for those customers vary across states and territories.

This project will help uncover the experiences of First Nations communities and people supplied by prepayment meters and find ways to ensure those households in the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia receive the same critical consumer protections as people on post-paid arrangements.

Funded through an Energy Consumers Australia collaboration grant, Original Power, in partnership with researchers at Western Sydney University, will work with locally based First Nations researchers to lead, design and conduct community consultations in the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia to improve energy sector understanding of the lived experience of First Nations households and communities using pre-payment arrangements for electricity.

Related article: First Nations people must be at the forefront of Australia’s renewable energy revolution

Tangentyere Council, representing the Alice Springs town camps, will be involved in the project as one of the local First Nations researcher partners.

“It’s important that our mob understand how to manage power and gain information on pre-payment meters. We need to make this information available for everybody using pre-payment so our communities can have fairer access to electricity services,” Tangentyere Council senior Indigenous researcher Vanessa Napaltjari Davis said.

Original Power will then collaborate directly with government and regulatory agencies including retailers to analyse and share data and to identify and implement solutions that will help communities.

Retailers and networks who service First Nations communities and pre-payment customers in the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia are encouraged to contact Original Power to take part in the project.

“Original Power is proud to work alongside Indigenous research partners across the continent on this major national study, shining a light on the underreported experience of First Nations energy customers who access electricity through pre-payment,” Original Power executive director Lauren Mellor said.

“First Nations pre-paid meter customers experience some of the highest rates of energy insecurity of any population in the world, with frequent and extended disconnections caused by a lack of affordable power and exacerbated by the automated disconnections inherent to pre-paid meters. These experiences significantly impact the lives of First Nations families and communities, undermining social and economic wellbeing.

“As this study kicks off in the Northern Territory and expands to other pre-paid meter regions across Australia, we look forward to working collaboratively with communities, service providers, retailers and regulators to find ways to improve energy security for all First Nations energy customers.”

Chantelle Johns, a Marlinja-based researcher said, “It’s important that a national study captures all of the issues, questions and concerns regarding prepayment meters and to gather real data on how we are impacted to help advocate for change in our communities so that pre-payment customers can achieve real energy security.”

Dr Thomas Longden from the Urban Transformations Research Centre (UTRC) at Western Sydney University said: “The impacts of regular disconnection from electricity in remote communities are often a blind spot for the Australian energy community.”

A previous study in Nature Energy, co-authored by Dr Longden and funded by Energy Consumers Australia, found that 91% of households experienced a disconnection from electricity in a year and 74% were disconnected more than 10 times.

Related article: New First Nations engagement guide for renewables industry

“While we know that energy insecurity is common, we need to better understand how we could improve energy affordability, access and reliability for pre-paid meter customers.

“Disconnections are common and increase during days of extreme heat and cold. All power is lost to the household so even the lights go off, which makes the house dangerous to be in as they get very dark. This also means that there is no heating or cooling. The fridge stops working and this could lead to food going off and essential medicines being spoilt.

“That places people at risk of critical health events, for example, diabetics need insulin, but it spoils when it is not stored in an operable fridge. There’s also an extremely high rate of kidney disease, which makes people very vulnerable to extreme heat.”

The post New research project to improve First Nations energy security appeared first on Energy Source & Distribution.

Transgrid has awarded cadetships to Charles Sturt University engineering students Alex Price and Imani Dunne who will earn while they learn from experts delivering transmission infrastructure essential to realising Australia’s clean energy transition.

Related article: Transgrid scholarships to help accelerate energy transition

Transgrid executive general manager of people and culture Stephen McSweeney said, “Transgrid is delighted to expand our partnership with Charles Sturt University. We have already implemented a $2 million scholarship program to support 100 engineering students at the university’s Bathurst campus over seven years and now we are taking our commitment even further.

“This new cadetship program will provide participants with valuable opportunities to develop their skills in a real-world work environment, learn from professionals working on Australia’s largest electricity transmission network, and contribute to nation-critical transmission projects.”

Price and Dunne have started their one-year cadetships with Transgrid, working on major transmission projects HumeLink and EnergyConnect respectively. They recently moved to Wagga Wagga after studying at the university’s Bathurst campus.

Dunne, who also received a $20,000 scholarship from Transgrid last year to support her studies, is keen to learn more about the clean energy transition and make a contribution to such a significant project as EnergyConnect.

“I’m looking forward to developing my skills as an engineer through onsite learning and finding new things to love about working as an engineer that I wouldn’t find studying in a classroom,” she said.

“It’s great that I’ve been given the opportunity to experience what it is like working as an engineer within a large company on a large project.

“I applied for the cadetship program to learn from industry professionals and experts within Transgrid.

“Having done design work within my studies at Charles Sturt University I am very excited to learn more about the construction side of engineering projects as well as the way civil engineering and electrical engineering coincide within the projects.”

Price said he is keen to diversify his skillset as part of the HumeLink team by learning about engineering design to complement his experience in construction engineering.

“Having previously done various civil projects, I am looking forward to delving into the electrical infrastructure side of civil engineering,” he said.

Related article: Transgrid names former Origin boss Grant King as chair

“I am also excited to experience the opportunity that a larger company provides and develop my engineering and personal skills by learning from the many professionals and experts within Transgrid.”

Transgrid will offer up to five cadetships each year to Charles Sturt University engineering students.

The post Future engineers join Transgrid cadetship program appeared first on Energy Source & Distribution.

Brett, please tell us a bit about your professional background:

I began my journey with a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Queensland, which set the foundation for my career in the energy sector. After completing my studies, I took on various roles where I managed operations and engineering teams, implementing lean transformations and improving product competitiveness. A significant milestone in my career was co-founding Kaon Electric. Here, we developed the Fusesaver medium voltage circuit breaker to enhance the reliability of rural power distribution. Our success in innovation eventually led to the acquisition by Siemens, marking a pivotal moment in my professional journey. I’ve worked with Siemens for nearly 12 years now. Throughout my career, I’ve been driven by a passion for developing technologies that contribute to a sustainable and resilient energy future. This passion continues to guide my work at Siemens, where we aim to shape a better future for all.

Related article: Siemens partners with renewables developer Marathon Group

Having been with Siemens for over a decade, what are some of the biggest changes in the energy sector you’ve witnessed?

The energy landscape in Australia has undergone remarkable transformations. One of the most significant changes is the rapid pace of the energy transition towards renewables. Developing new technologies and adopting digital technologies, including artificial intelligence and IoT has been a major game-changer. Digitalisation plays a crucial role in the transition process. Being at the forefront of developing and deploying technologies that shape the future of energy excites me and has been incredibly rewarding.

What are some of the major challenges of electrification in the energy transition, from your perspective?

For most people, the electrical grid might seem invisible, but it’s the backbone of our energy transition journey. We can’t keep expanding the network as we’ve done in the past, so we need to focus on three key areas to make this transition successful. First, we must maximise our existing infrastructure and the latest technology. This can help us achieve significant efficiency gains, which are crucial for our goals. Second, we must improve the transparency of lower-voltage electrical networks. This means giving everyone involved a better understanding of the system, which can lead to smarter decisions and better overall performance. Lastly, it’s important to understand that sustainability and grid stability go hand in hand. Many people think they’re opposites, but they actually support each other. We need to balance both.

What solutions is Siemens developing in response to these challenges?

The electrical grid is crucial for a successful energy transition. Wherever utilities are in their journey, they turn to us for help. Our sustainable hardware, software, and advanced digital solutions are designed to reduce CO2 footprints while transforming grids into autonomous, resilient, and sustainable power networks. At Siemens, technology and sustainability aren’t just ideals—they drive our business. Our Electrification and Automation portfolio works to eliminate F-gases from switchgear with our blue GIS (gas-insulated switchgear). We are also starting to support hydrogen projects as an alternative energy source and help customers integrate renewables and manage uncertainties with our automation and microgrid solutions. We are collaborating with companies leading renewable deployment projects. Our market-leading portfolio includes state-of-the-art hardware and digital solutions, and combined with our global presence, financing capabilities, and project delivery expertise, we help partners accelerate the move to 24/7 clean energy. This commitment underscores our dedication to driving change, creating value, and shaping a sustainable future for everyone.

With multiple forms of generation and storage technologies forming part of the grid, what are some of the major considerations in terms of grid intelligence, resilience and stability?

The shift towards decentralised renewable energy generation and mobile loads like EV charging has made grid management more complex, especially at lower voltage levels with less transparency. To achieve grid reliability and stability, we need better transparency and digitalisation. Digitalisation is key. Advanced technologies like cloud computing, digital solutions, and decentralised grid intelligence at low voltage levels will be crucial for navigating the energy transition. Our latest addition to our portfolio is Electrification X, a highly scalable Internet-of-Things SaaS solution designed to transform electrification infrastructure. It merges the real and digital worlds, helping renewable generators, transmission and distribution system operators, and industrial and infrastructure customers manage their entire energy networks. This leads to increased uptime, improved reliability, better asset utilisation, energy efficiency, sustainability, and cybersecurity. By adopting this approach, grid operators can enhance grid intelligence and resilience, accelerate the energy transition, and gain a competitive edge.

Related article: Sustainable switch: Ausgrid first to install Siemens’ blue GIS

Any final thoughts?

Australia has all the ingredients to be a renewable energy superpower. We need to stay focused on increasing the speed of deployment and, as we focus on generating enough green energy to meet base load needs, we need to also push ahead strongly with creating adequate storage to support what is generated. This task will be the focus of our generation, and I am proud that our team here and Siemens globally are making profound contributions to this mission.

The post 5 Minutes With: Brett Watson, Siemens Australia and NZ appeared first on Energy Source & Distribution.

The annual apprenticeship program offers candidates a chance to become lineworkers, cable jointers, substation electricians or meter technicans. The four-year apprenticeship positions are available across regional and metropolitan areas, including Burnley, Brooklyn, Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton, Colac, Mildura, Warrnambool, Maryborough, Horsham, Kyneton and Echuca.

Related article: Tunnels reveal Melbourne’s past—and future

The successful candidates will join a growing cohort of more than 200 apprentices employed by CitiPower and Powercor over the past decade.

Powercor head of operations and delivery Barry David said it was the only opportunity to join a Victorian electricity network business directly as an apprentice lineworker.

“Our apprenticeships provide the best start to what can be a fulfilling and lifelong career,” he said.

“No two days are ever the same as a lineworker. One day you may be replacing poles, upgrading powerlines or connecting the latest renewable project, and then the next you could be responding to a major weather event, helping get the power back on to homes and businesses.”

The new recruits will join a 700-strong in-house field workforce, with the majority of these having started their careers as apprentices with the business. The selection process involves written, practical and interview-based selection criteria. Last year, a record number of women joined the business as apprentices.

“Having the right people in these roles is as essential as the poles and wires that deliver the power,” David said.

“To make sure we are ready for the future, we are building a diverse workforce and want people of all ages, genders and backgrounds to apply.

Related article: Powercor starts construction of new Echuca depot

“We want people with the right attitude, who like working in teams, are committed to safety and are excited about contributing to their local communities. They’ll love outdoor work, they’re happy working at heights in all weather, and enjoy practical, hands-on learning.”

To apply, candidates must have completed, or be completing, Year 11 VCE or VCAL and achieved a pass in General Maths/Numeracy or have completed (or be completing) a pre-apprenticeship TAFE training course in Electrotechnology (Cert II).

The post Lineworker apprenticeship recruitment drive underway appeared first on Energy Source & Distribution.

AusNet CEO David Smales said the new vision, which is to be ‘trusted to bring the energy today and build a cleaner tomorrow,’ has been established to guide the actions and decisions of the company through the energy transition.

“I have established a new leadership team to deliver on this vision and drive an increased focus on delivering improved outcomes for our customers, communities, key stakeholders and our business,” Smales said.

AusNet’s new leadership team has been structured to provide increased executive focus on four lines of business: electricity transmission, electricity distribution, gas and metering, and contestable energy infrastructure. This means it will shift from a functional operating model to a line of business operating model.

Related article: AusNet rolls out community response vehicles for outages

“Each business leader has been tasked with achieving exceptional performance outcomes for their respective community, customer and stakeholder groups, whilst enabling an efficient energy transition,” Smales said.

The executive leadership team is as follows:

• Liz Ryan will lead the Victorian Electricity Transmission business
• Andrew Linnie will lead the Victorian Electricity Distribution business
• Fran Duiker will lead the Victorian Gas and Metering business (on an acting basis)
• Jon D’Sylva will lead AusNet’s contestable Development and Future Networks business.

The four lines of business will be supported by five enabling functions:

• Mark Ellul, Chief Financial Officer
• Bridget Cairns, Executive General Manager People and Safety
• Amanda Robertson, Executive General Manager Compliance, Risk and Corporate Affairs
• Chris Galland, Chief Technology Officer (Acting)
• Sarah Hannah, Executive General Manager Group Operations (Acting).

The post AusNet announces new operating model and leadership appeared first on Energy Source & Distribution.

Asahi Beverages, Australia’s leading beverages company, has signed another Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Flow Power, moving closer to its target of having 100% of purchased electricity sourced from or offset by renewables by 2025.

Related article: Ampcontrol inks 10-year PPA with Flow Power

BaptistCare, a leading provider of aged care and community services, has also signed two PPAs with Flow Power, one of which is linked to New England Solar commencing in 2025.

For BaptistCare, its 10-year solar-and-wind PPA will allow it to reduce the carbon footprint of its NSW and ACT operations by 70%, and plays a key role in the organisation’s plan to become net zero no later than 2050.

Flow Power CEO Byron Serjeantson said, “We are thrilled to be an ongoing part of Asahi and BaptistCare’s journey towards 100% renewable electricity.

“At Flow Power, we are proud to partner with projects that set the industry standard for sustainability and community consultation.”

New England Solar, an ACEN Australia project, at full development of 720MW is expected to power an estimated 300,000 homes a year.

Related article: Symbiotic solar: Merino sheep flock to New England Solar

ACEN Australia managing director David Pollington said the agreement with Flow Power was another milestone for the company’s inaugural project, New England Solar, which stands as a major contributor to the NEM.

“We have a bold strategy to help Australia transition to a clean energy future, and we are excited by this offtake with Flow Power, enabling us to bring more renewable energy projects to life and clean electricity for Australian homes and businesses,” he said.

The post Flow Power inks solar PPA with Asahi and BaptistCare appeared first on Energy Source & Distribution.

Related article: World-first cybercrime index ranks countries by threat level

This is four times higher than the global cross-sector median. In addition, 49% of ransomware attacks against these two critical infrastructure sectors started with an exploited vulnerability.

Data for the State of Ransomware in Critical Infrastructure 2024 report comes from 275 respondents at energy, oil and gas, and utilities organisations.

“Criminals focus where they can cause the most pain and disruption so the public will demand quick resolutions, and they hope, ransom payments to restore services more quickly,” said Chester Wisniewski, global field CTO.

On top of growing recovery costs, the median ransom payment for organisations in these two sectors jumped to more than $2.5 million in 2024—$500,0000 higher than the global cross-sector median.

The energy and water sectors also reported the second highest rate of ransomware attacks. Overall, 67% of the organizations in these sectors reported being hit by ransomware in 2024, in comparison to the global, cross-sector average of 59%.

Other findings from the report include:

• The energy and water sectors reported increasingly longer recovery times. Only 20% of organisations hit by ransomware were able to recover within a week or less in 2024, compared to 41% in 2023 and 50% in 2022. Fifty-five percent took more than a month to recover, up from 36% in 2023. In comparison, across all sectors, only 35% of companies took more than a month to recover.
• These two critical infrastructure sectors reported the highest rate of backup compromise (79%) and the third highest rate of successful encryption (80%) when compared to the other industries surveyed.

Related article: Improving the cyber resilience of Australia’s energy sector

“Utilities must recognise they are being targeted and take proactive action to monitor their exposure of remote access and network devices for vulnerabilities and ensure they have 24/7 monitoring and response capabilities to minimise outages and shorten recovery times,” Wisniewski said.

The post Energy sector ransomware recovery costs have quadrupled appeared first on Energy Source & Distribution.

Since 2020, the Zinfra Tasmanian Gas Pipeline project team and TGP have been working closely with a group of volunteers with the aim of protecting the endangered parrot population, including Swift and Orange Bellied parrots.

Related article: ACEN wind farm facing new legal challenge over parrot

Zinfra field manager Greg Donald said a lot of work had gone into the parrot protection program, dating back to when construction on the pipeline began.

“For over 20 years we have been working to help secure the parrot population in Tasmania, right from when we started construction on the gas pipeline and minimised the impact on the Eucalyptus Ovata vegetation that the parrots use for shelter, food and breeding,” he said.

“As the pipeline runs through two Swift Parrot habitats, we ensured the alignment of the pipeline allowed us to keep as many trees as possible.

“Our partner, TGP, has been instrumental in securing the haven for the Swift Parrots through their generous donations, and all the hard work paid off in April this year when four parrots were secured for breeding.”

The Swift and Orange Bellied parrots only breed in Tasmania in the summer months, then migrate north over winter to mainland Australia.

The Zinfra and TGP teams have worked closely with Kevin Hyland, manager of the Lobster Ponds in Flowerdale, and his team to set up the parrot haven onsite.

The Ponds also house the protected Giant Freshwater Crayfish, which is the largest crustacean in the world and unique to Northern Tasmania.

Donald said Zinfra was focused on finding ways it can give back to the communities in which it works in through these kind of long-term projects.

“Caring for and servicing communities is at the heart of what we do and I know how proud the team is to go above and beyond to care for the environment around them,” he said.

Related article: Hydro Tasmania gets nod for Edgar Dam upgrades

“We feel a real connection to the team at the Lobster Ponds, The Tasmanian Gas Pipeline runs on the same property and has had a connection with the nursery, providing native plant species that have been planted from one end of the state to the other, as part of the rehabilitation of the pipeline.

“Now with the Swift Parrots safely housed at the Ponds, we have taken big step forward in paving the way for introducing Orange Bellied Parrots shortly.”

The post Endangered parrots arrive at Tasmanian Gas Pipeline appeared first on Energy Source & Distribution.

Selected via an intensive pitch process through EnergyLab’s Scaleup Program, the 10 energy start-ups offer innovative new ideas in grid digitisation; advanced analytics; social licence and community engagement; commercial and industrial decarbonisation; distributed energy resource management; and on-demand satellite imaging.

Related article: Queensland start-up using AI to detect faults in solar farms

“As the electricity distribution service provider powering 2.7 million people living and working in some of Australia’s fastest growing regions, spanning from central NSW to the Blue Mountains, Greater Western Sydney, the Southern Highlands, and all the way down to the South Coast of NSW, we’re supercharging a renewable and brighter energy future in partnership with Australia’s largest climate tech accelerator and innovation network, EnergyLab,” Endeavour Energy’ chief customer and strategy officer Leanne Pickering said.

“This is our fourth year partnering with EnergyLab for the Scaleup Program to identify innovative late-stage start-ups to help us deliver new systems and technology for smarter, cleaner energy, today.”

The team has already connected with more than 30 start-ups from around the world to explore exciting new initiatives such as:

• applying advanced analytics, AI, robotics, and virtual reality to improve safety, modernise business practices and deliver more efficient and effective customer services
• employing drones (instead of helicopters) to string electricity conductors across large spans between power poles and towers over ravines and gullies
• using interactive mobile apps to help customers better understand and more efficiently use electricity in their homes.

EnergyLab CEO Megan Fisher said, “The Scaleup Program helps to connect startups working on breakthrough energy technologies from anywhere in the world with Aussie energy companies to explore pilots & partnerships opportunities.

“This not only helps startups to unlock their next wave of commercial opportunities, but also helps industry partners explore emerging tech to decarbonise the grid.

Related article: Endeavour Energy’s Kiama Community Battery goes live

“EnergyLab’s commitment to fostering collaboration within the energy sector continues to play a crucial role in accelerating the transition to renewable energy solutions.”

The 2024 Scaleup Program cohort consists of five startups from Australia, four from Europe, and two from the United States: Accure (Germany), Diagno (Australia), Kraftblock (Germany), Reswitch (Australia), Safegrid (Finland), Sentrisense (Sweden), SkyFi (USA), SNAPI (Australia), Techko (Australia) and VizAR (Australia).

The post Endeavour Energy and EnergyLab eye clean energy start-ups appeared first on Energy Source & Distribution.

Related article: Australia’s engineering skills gap is double global average

The first-year engineering students have each received a $20,000 scholarship, with recipients from NSW regions including the Central West, Central Coast, Orana, and Riverina, as well as Western Sydney and Victoria.

Transgrid executive general manager of major projects Gordon Taylor said, “Transgrid is delivering the transmission infrastructure identified as critical to enabling the Commonwealth and NSW governments’ clean energy vision.

“Over the next decade, we are investing $14 billion on a 2,500km energy superhighway including the EnergyConnect, HumeLink and VNI West projects and we require hundreds of skilled personnel and world-class engineers.

“Transgrid’s $2 million Engineering Scholarship Fund is supporting 100 students at the university’s Bathurst campus between 2023 and 2029 to expand the skilled workforce across the industry as the clean energy transition accelerates.

“We are delighted to support another 20 engineering students at Charles Sturt University this year who are joining the 17 recipients awarded scholarships in 2023.

Related article: Transgrid names former Origin boss Grant King as chair

“Each recipient receives $5,000 annually for four years to ease the financial burden and support them in their studies.”

Applications for the 2025 scholarship program are now open.

The post Transgrid scholarships to help accelerate energy transition appeared first on Energy Source & Distribution.

Australia’s three-fold transmission challenge requires refreshed energy market rules.

Australia has set a national target for 82% of its electricity to be supplied from renewable sources by 2030, as part of an orderly transition to net zero emissions by 2050.

Achieving this 2030 target will help meet Australia’s commitment under the Paris Accord of a 43% reduction on 2005 emissions levels by 2030. But we need to move faster to stay on track.

In the EY Net Zero Centre’s latest thought leadership paper, Powering progress: How Australia can fast-track energy transmission projects for a renewable future, we examine why so many transmission projects have stalled, and look at the levers we can pull to speed up delivery.

Powering progress is the second instalment of the three-part Energy Infrastructure Executive Briefing Series, Stepping Up to Drive the Step Change. And it is a step change.

The Australian Energy Market Operator’s (AEMO) Draft 2024 Integrated System Plan (ISP) outlines the investment required for Australia to meet its targets. This includes a tripling of grid-scale renewable energy by 2030 and a seven-fold increase by 2050.

Related article: Coal-free in 14 years as renewables rush in: new blueprint shows how to green the grid—without nuclear

Rooftop solar capacity is expected to double by 2030, and Australia needs to change the way it treats distributed energy resources (DER). The first paper in our Energy Infrastructure Briefing Series, From chaos to choreography, explores the challenges of orchestrating DER.

“Australia must integrate new energy infrastructure, piece by piece, while maintaining system stability. We must deliver reliable and affordable electricity while helping ensure the benefits are shared. And we must race towards net zero as the rest of the world decarbonises too,” EY Australia’s Declan McManus said.

All the evidence suggests firmed renewable energy has a decisive cost advantage over alternative options, including nuclear, and is better positioned to underpin future energy intensive export industries. But even if the relative costs and merits of different generation options change in coming decades, keeping the lights on in the next few years requires immediate action to build and connect new generation.

Most of this renewable energy generation will be built at a distance from our capital cities, requiring an estimated 10,000km of new transmission infrastructure by 2050.

However, in its most recent update to the Electricity Statement of Opportunities (ESOO), published in May 2024, AEMO noted significant delays to key transmission projects and called for urgent investments in transmission capacity. Recent analysis shows that all but one transmission line project has suffered delays; some projects are more than five years behind schedule.

How do we move beyond the bottlenecks?

Why have transmission projects slowed? And how do we move beyond the bottlenecks? Several obstacles stand in our way. But if we can overcome them, the opportunity is as enormous as the size of the challenge today.

1. Supply chain crunch

The International Energy Agency has observed that pressure on supply chains is affecting the pace of energy transitions around the world.[v] But Australia’s Transmission Network Service Providers (TNSPs) lack buying power, which makes it harder for them to compete for network equipment.

Australia faces an import impasse that we are unlikely to resolve any time soon. EY analysis finds Australia’s demand for key transmission equipment—while unprecedented by historical standards—is just 0.6% of transmission equipment demand in advanced economies. From a global perspective, Australia’s demand is just a ‘rounding error’ in global demand.

2. Skills squeeze

Labour constraints are likely to be an ongoing challenge for Australia. Jobs and Skills Australia, an independent agency established by the Australian Government to provide data and analysis on labour market needs, estimates that we will need up to 42,000 more electricians to meet our 2030 renewable energy target. The workforce must expand from 53,000 workers today to 84,000 by 2050. Compounding the difficulty is the global competition for the same skilled labour, as countries worldwide ramp up their own renewable energy projects.

3. Slow approvals exacerbated by social license concerns

Transmission projects have been subject to community opposition, highlighting the need to do more to gain community support. The Australian Energy Regulator is currently refining its approach to social license and, after consultation, is updating its guidelines and instruments.[vii] But the terminology of ‘social license’ itself suggests a privilege to be earned. The challenge for project proponents is to think instead about how benefits should be shared.

“We have three levers to pull. But with limited options on labour and equipment constraints, the only lever we can pull quickly is policy and planning—and so government needs to act urgently and decisively to overcome delays,” EY Australia’s Michael Newman said.

A supersized energy superpower opportunity

Our coal-fired power stations must be replaced. Doing nothing is not an option, because they are near the end of their economic life and become increasingly likely to break down as they age.

But this imperative also presents opportunities. Renewable energy provides the lowest cost option for replacing these retiring assets, and positions Australia to respond to growing worldwide demand for products made with zero emissions energy.

The EY Net Zero Centre’s 2023 report, Seizing Australia’s energy superpower opportunities, outlines the size of the opportunity. Investing in renewable energy at scale to provide Australia with clean energy and grow new industries could deliver around $65 billion to national GDP by 2050, EY team has found.

Related article: AEMO says renewables “the most efficient path” to net zero

“If we roll out cost-competitive firmed renewable energy at scale to grow our share of global materials and energy-intensive production, we could expand national GDP by 2.3% by 2050, relative to a lost opportunity where Australia falls behind the global march towards net zero,” EY Port Jackson Partners Dr Steve Hatfield-Dodds said.

Directionally, we know where we must go. But practically, we are trapped in a loop, challenged by supply chain and labour constraints, and by complex regulation and planning processes.

Australia’s energy ministers have agreed that long-term reforms to the National Energy Market (NEM) “must be carried out expeditiously”. But it will take the next two-to-three years, at least, for NEM reforms to kick in. In the meantime, transmission lines must be rolled out at pace.

Summary

The stakes are high, and the timeline is tight. We must accelerate approval processes, streamline regulatory frameworks, and actively engage with communities to secure their support. We need to act now to de-risk urgent actions and investments, allowing time to reform broader rules and regulations. By working hard on multiple fronts, we can overcome the current obstacles and deliver on our ambition for a reliable, affordable and sustainable energy future for Australia.

The post How Australia can fast-track its energy transmission projects appeared first on Energy Source & Distribution.