
Energy Insiders - a RenewEconomy Podcast
Join Renew Economy founder and editor-in-chief Giles Parkinson and columnist and energy markets expert David Leitch as they discuss the week's main events - politics, solar and storage.
Latest episodes

Dec 15, 2023 • 46min
Will Chris Bowen’s capacity scheme actually work?
Baringa’s Anne Bailey talks about the Capacity Investment Mechanism and what’s needed to make it work. Plus: AEMO’s 2024 ISP, the COP28 results, and energy ministers and coal plants.

Dec 8, 2023 • 46min
Victoria’s SEC and its first big battery play
Vic SEC boss Chris Miller on the state-owned corporation’s first big battery play, and what’s next. Plus: All the news of the week.

Dec 1, 2023 • 56min
Macquarie marches in to Australian renewables
Macquarie marches in to Australian renewables by RenewEconomy

Nov 28, 2023 • 47min
AI, inverters and a smarter grid
Kate Muller from Norton Rose Fulbright talks with Habitat’s Ben Irons and colleague Nick Abrahams on the role AI will play in a grid making switch from spinning machines to inverter-based tech.

Nov 24, 2023 • 47min
Bowen's capacity scheme, and NSW's "free" batteries
Brad Hopkins discusses the successful battery storage tender in NSW, serving as a blueprint for Chris Bowen's capacity scheme. They talk about securing long-term energy service agreements, challenges in changing regulations, dominance of batteries in awarded tenders, concerns about El Tessa contracts, challenges in obtaining the ARANA transmission contract, and observations about the bone announcement and renewable energy distribution.

Nov 17, 2023 • 32min
State of confusion
This podcast discusses confusing wind guidelines in NSW and the shortage of spinning machines in the coal state. It also highlights the battle between Origin Energy and Tesla. Other topics include developments in the energy industry, opposition to the hydrogen plan, coal trip fire generators, Andrew Forrest's venture into asset management and green hydrogen, and discussion of renewable energy company Acedable P.

Nov 10, 2023 • 39min
Wind, solar, batteries and pumps
Genex is succeeding where others feared to tread, with a new big battery, the first pumped hydro project in four decades, and massive wind, solar and storage plans. CEO Craig Francis explains how.

Oct 31, 2023 • 50min
The end of spinning machines
Ivor Frischknecht, head of Sosteneo, discusses a new battery that eliminates the need for spinning machines. They talk about achieving 100% renewables, the challenges of battery projects, and the role of government and the private sector in the energy industry. They also touch on the importance of capital in the energy market and the presence of misinformation campaigns.

Oct 23, 2023 • 42min
South Australia's big move into green hydrogen
State energy minister Tom Koutsantonis discusses green hydrogen plan, filling the "gap" on renewables, transmission, storage and prices.

Oct 20, 2023 • 55min
Australia’s methane problem
This podcast explores Australia's methane problem and potential solutions, including the role of batteries in setting energy prices. It also discusses the sources and impact of methane emissions, shifting food choices for environmental impact, and the possibility of imposing a methane tax to reduce CO2 emissions.