Energy Unpacked

In this episode, we chat with Oxana Dankova, Partner and Director of Energy Networks at BCG, on the global state of transmission and distribution investment. Grid investment is set to double in the next five years globally, with the world's grid footprint more than doubling by 2050.But the build-out isn't straightforward. Oxana walks us through the funding pressures that could push tariffs higher, the supply chain bottlenecks stretching cable orders 5–7 years out, and the "not in my backyard" challenges. She also makes the case that the most interesting innovation isn't in the giant transmission lines — it's at the distribution level, where flexibility and smarter planning could change what we actually need to build.* This episode was recorded in August 2025 so any dates mentioned are relative to that time.

Following our Innovation Miniseries, we’re diving into grid-scale projects: the big, complex, critical infrastructure that will make or break Australia’s energy transition. We’re sitting down with guests from Rondo Energy, Aurecon, BCG and VSUN Energy to unpack:- What’s driving transmission project delays and cost overruns- Australia’s REZ landscape — how zones compare in structure, maturity and community coordination- Innovation in environmental planning and financing, and what we can learn from overseas- Making better use of distribution network capacity and resource adequacy modelling- Why long duration storage is critical — for the grid and for large industrial customers- Commercial LDES solutions: heat batteries and vanadium flow batteries- The opportunity to build a domestic vanadium flow battery supply chain in AustraliaTune into this introductory conversation to learn more about why we chose this topic and what we hope to learn from our guests in this miniseries.

In this episode, we sit down again with Brian Innes - this time with his Accenture hat on- to unpack how AI is actually being used in the energy transition—and where it may be overhyped.We explore how machine learning is helping forecast supply and demand, optimise generation, and unlock flexibility in industrial processes to better match renewable energy. Rather than replacing humans, AI is emerging as a decision-support tool—augmenting operators and enabling participation in increasingly complex, fast-moving energy markets.We also touch on the broader system impacts, from improving grid efficiency to the growing importance of data, as well as key challenges like model drift, oversight, and the rising energy demand of data centres.

This week we’re joined by Brian Innes, founder of Plico, an innovator in the VPP space. Brian shares his journey into the energy industry and explains Plico’s unique membership model, designed to address key challenges of owning and operating DER in Australia.We explore the importance of customer education and engagement, flexible ownership structures, and the critical role of asset management and ongoing support in successful VPPs. The conversation also looks ahead to future trends, including the growing integration of electric vehicles into the energy ecosystem.

AI is driving a surge in energy demand—but what if it could also help solve some of the grid’s biggest challenges? In this episode, we chat with Matthew Meszaros, CEO of Project Ohm, about how AI infrastructure can support the energy transition—not just consume power. We unpack how flexible, distributed GPU nodes can act as a new class of “digital DER,” shifting compute demand to align with renewable generation, reduce energy costs, and improve grid stability. From why demand-side flexibility matters in a renewable-heavy grid, to which AI workloads can be scheduled versus those that can’t, Matthew shares how Project Ohm’s model challenges traditional data centres and points toward a global, “follow-the-sun” future for clean, low-cost compute.

Are distribution networks more than just poles and wires? Could they be the platforms that enable a smarter, more flexible energy future? And if so—what do we need to unlock their full potential?In our final episode of Season 2, we sit down with Andy Dunne from Ausgrid, who is leading Project Edith, a pioneering initiative focused on enabling flexible resources through innovative network pricing.We discuss:⚡ How Project Edith is helping to refine how flexible assets interact with distribution networks🔗 The potential of dynamic local pricing 🚀 Key learnings and challenges from the project so far🔮 What’s could be next for network innovation in AustraliaYou can find out more about Project Edith here https://www.ausgrid.com.au/About-Us/Future-Grid/Project-EdithIf you’ve been following along this season, thank you! We’ve loved unpacking the big questions around the energy transition, decentralisation, and the future of the grid—and we’ll be back soon.

In this episode we are joined by industry guru Andy McCarthy, who has recently published his first book "Here Comes the Sun." We delve into crucial energy transition themes, including the development of our future workforce, building trust in communities, and the importance of behind-the-meter assets in our energy system.Connect with Andy McCarthy: Learn more about Andy and his book "Here Comes the Sun" at andymccarthy.com.au.

We were blown away by our conversation with Kira Rundel from RayGen this week, an Australian technology company that has developed a cutting-edge solar thermal and long-duration storage solution. Kira, who heads up Strategic Projects, shared insights on: 🔧 How the technology works and compares to more mainstream solutions 🔄 The evolution of the company and key pivots 💡 Current use cases and future co-location opportunities 👷 Insights from existing projects It’s hard not to get excited hearing about clever solutions to critical energy transition challenges. You can learn more about RayGen here https://raygen.com/

This week, Tom Gay from Origin Energy joins our podcast to provide a comprehensive overview of Virtual Power Plants (VPPs). In this episode we go back to basics, covering what a VPP is, and how it can support different players in the energy transition. If you're curious about how to get additional value from your battery, heat pump, or EV charger, or simply want to understand some of the VPP products available in the market, this episode is for you. We’re not as quick as we would like! Please note that this episode was recorded in August 2024, and specific product offers and details mentioned in this episode should be verified. You can learn more about Origin Energy’s VPP offerings here https://www.originenergy.com.au/solar/panels-batteries/virtual-power-plant/

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.

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

It’s no secret that to build out all the new renewable generation, storage and transmission infrastructure we need to reach an 80% renewable grid by 2030, we need communities onboard. In this episode we cover some of the challenges around securing social license, and pathways for progressing this important element of the Energy Transition. Sources used in the creation of this episode include; AEMO’s 2022 Integrated System Plan https://aemo.com.au/en/energy-systems/major-publications/integrated-system-plan-isp/2022-integrated-system-plan-isp HumeLink transmission project shapes up as a test of governments’ willhttps://www.afr.com/companies/energy/humelink-transmission-project-shapes-up-as-a-test-of-governments-will-20230918-p5e5hg Strategic Benefit Payments Scheme Overview https://www.energyco.nsw.gov.au/community/strategic-benefit-payments-scheme