Afleveringen

  • On 1 August, Matt Kean will become chair of the https://www.climatechangeauthority.gov.au/.Over a parliamentary career spanning 13 years with two state premiers, Kean has been NSW's Treasurer, Environment Minister, Innovation Minister, Energy Minister and Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party.When announcing his resignation from politics just one month ago, Kean made it clear that the next phase of his career will be in the energy transition. In this timely episode, Luke and Matt discuss the different directions he was pulled in as an energy minister, Australia's critical behind-the-metre challenges, and what it was like to take the call from Chris Bowen pitching him his new role, while standing on a crowded train.The episode was recorded just after Kean stepped off stage at the 2024 Australian Clean Energy Summit, where he'd called on industry to "put its money where its mouth is."In a packed 30 minutes, Kean explains that challenge further, and discusses sectoral decarbonisation and how to engage different parts of the economy in deeper ways."The energy transition is in Australia's interest, and our national interest, and we should be out there arguing the case."Connect with us:eec.org.au Follow us on LinkedinEmail us at [email protected] find out how you can listen to an upcoming episode of First Fuel live, visit podfollow.com/first-fuel/home

  • In Episode 91 of First Fuel, EEC CEO Luke Menzel is joined by Victoria’s Minister for Climate Action, Energy and Resources, and Minister for State Electricity Commission, Lily D’Ambrosio.

    As Australia’s longest serving current Minister for Energy – and with Victoria’s ambitious decarbonisation targets and a range of new policy measures – Minister D’Ambrosio had plenty to catch us up on.

    In this 30 minute deep dive, Luke and the Minister trade war stories after a decade in their respective roles, and cover both the details and the vision behind:

    - the minimum rental standards currently out for consultation in Victoria

    - the first strategic review of the flagship Victorian Energy Upgrades program as it reaches its 15th birthday

    - Showing industry what’s possible via Victoria’s Large Energy User Electrification Support Program

    - the role of the federal government to work with the states via programs such as GEMS

    … and much more.

    Connect with our guest:

    lilydambrosio.com.au

    Connect with us:

    Find out more about the EEC

    Follow us on LinkedIn

    Email us at [email protected]

    To find out how you can listen to an upcoming episode of First Fuel live, visit www.eec.org.au/podcasts

  • Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?

    Klik hier om de feed te vernieuwen.

  • First Fuel returns with a very special episode this month, featuring none other than Amory Lovins, co-founder of RMI and an Adjunct Professor at Stanford University.

    At the end of an incredible week that included Australia's first Industrial Decarbonisation Summit and the 2024 EEC National Conference, Amory joined our host and EEC CEO Luke Menzel to reflect on where Australia finds itself at this point in our energy transition.

    Luke and Amory also discussed Amory's history with Australia, his thoughts on the potential for energy management in the near and long-term future, nuclear power and much more. As you'd expect from the man dubbed 'the Einstein of Energy Efficiency' this is a wide-ranging, solutions-focussed 30 minutes of conversation that is overflowing with ideas.

  • A guest of the EEC at 2023's National Energy Efficiency Conference, Dr Jessica Grandersondirects the Building Technology and Urban Systems Division at the LawrenceBerkeley National Laboratory, and is one of the world’s foremost experts on buildingefficiency and energy management.

    In this episode, Luke and Jessica explore the ins and outs of smart buildings, discussinghow software can be used as an overlay to traditional building technology;how governments can advance policies that incentivise the market; how buildingusers interact with flexible loads; and most importantly, how all this smartbuilding potential can be turned into reality.

    What’s apparent is just how much can be achieved usingexisting technology and systems, which will be able to interact with futuretechnology. But as exciting as coming innovations may be: we don't need to wait.

    Connect with Jessica
    Connect with Luke
    eec.org.au

  • Of the many positives to come from the 2023 National Energy Efficiency Conference, one of the biggest was the opportunity to bring Jan Rosenow to Australia for the first time.

    In the world of energy efficiency, Dr Rosenow needs little introduction. With his day job leading European Programs at the Regulatory Assistance Project, Jan also serves on the Executive Committee of the International Energy Agency’s demand-side management program, and sits on the board of the European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (he also makes time to maintain an excellent social media presence).

    After delivering his keynote at the conference, Dr Rosenow sat down with EEC CEO Luke Menzel to reflect on how Australia can effectively prioritise our raft of energy challenges. The pair also discuss their confidence in electrification as the way forward in the building sector, the role of electrification relative to hydrogen in other sectors, and why it’s useful to retain a little scepticism around net zero targets if they’re not immediately paired with plans to hit them.

    As always, this episode of First Fuel is a freewheeling ride that goes deep with some of the best minds in the energy efficiency business.

    Connect with Jan
    Connect with Luke
    eec.org.au

  • Last month's National Efficiency Schemes Summit was the first of its kind: a national event bringing together participants in all Australia's state efficiency schemes – a remarkable fact by Energy Savings Industry Association President Rod Woolley.

    That industry and government, NGOs and consumer groups from right around Australia had never gathered in one room before before to discuss the schemes was, as Luke says, “kind of bananas.” So with the stage lights still warm, we sat down with three key participants to discuss what the day meant and will continue to mean as Australia's schemes mature and diversify to keep pace with our changing energy systems.

    Joining Luke to get out of the weeds and talk scheme strategy and impact are Caroline Bennett, CEO of Green Energy and Carbon Management, Steve Procter from the NSW Office of Energy and Climate Change, and Climateworks Centre's Anna Malos.

    For more info on the Summit, head to eec.org.au/ness23.

  • Earlier this month, some of Australia’s biggest companies released a statement to say that even our heaviest industries can transition their supply chains to net zero emissions, and they’re prepared to put the work in.

    It won’t be easy, and the pathway is narrow. But thanks to the work of the Australian Industry Energy Transition Initiative, it’s possible.

    In Episode 86 of First Fuel, EEC CEO Luke Menzel is joined by Orica’s Head of Sustainability Troy Powell and Industry Lead at Climateworks Centre, Rob Kelly, to discuss the Energy Transition Initiative and the opportunities it presents to Australian industry.

    Read all publications from the Australian Energy Transition Initiative here.


    Connect with our guests:

    ⁠Find Troy here⁠.

    Find Rob here.


    Connect with us:

    ⁠Find Luke on Twitter here ⁠

    Find out more about the Energy Efficiency Council at ⁠eec.org.au⁠

    ⁠Follow us on Twitter⁠.

    ⁠Email us at [email protected]

  • Along with ambitious commitments to renewable energy, the Albanese Government has set its sights on decarbonisation and energy efficiency, putting the nation's energy policy wonks to work over the summer.

    In Episode 85 of First Fuel, EEC CEO Luke Menzel and EEC Acting Head of Policy Alex St John (a man who in his own words, “skews wonk”) discuss the “Summer of Submissions”.

    Luke and Alex unpack the EEC's thoughts on the proposed ⁠National Energy PerformanceStrategy⁠, as well as ⁠climate-related financial disclosure⁠, the ⁠Powering the Regions fund⁠, and of course, ⁠reforms to the Safeguard Mechanism⁠.

    Connect with our guests:

    Find Alex here.

    Connect with us:

    Find Luke on Twitter here

    Find out more about the Energy Efficiency Council at eec.org.au

    Follow us on Twitter.

    Email us at [email protected]

  • If they don’t already have one, developing a net zero plan is high on the priority list for all Australian businesses. But as most now know, the real job isn’t developing a plan, but putting that plan to work.

    In Episode 84 of First Fuel, EEC CEO Luke Menzel is joined by Kate Levick, co-head of the UK Transition Planning Taskforce Secretariat.

    The Transition Plan Taskforce was formed when, in a speech at Glasgow’s COP26, Britain’s then-Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak announced that listed companies in the UK would be asked to disclose their transition plans by 2023.

    Speaking one year on at COP27 in Egypt, Luke and Kate discuss the Taskforce’s role in defining what best practice business transitions look like; how companies across sectors can ensure the best chance of a successful transition; and what Australian government and businesses can learn from the UK experience so far.

    Mentioned in this episode:

    Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures

    The Transition Plan Taskforce Disclosure Framework

    The Transition Plan Taskforce Implementation Guidance

    TPT Online Sandbox

    Key topics:

    What is the UK’s Transition Plan Task Force?

    What do we mean when we say a transition plan?

    The link between financial disclosure and transition plans

    Lessons for Australia and the rest of the world

    Connect with our guests:

    Find Kate at https://twitter.com/katellevick

    Find the TPT at https://transitiontaskforce.net/

    Connect with us:

    Find Luke at https://twitter.com/lukemenzel

    Find out more about the Energy Efficiency Council at www.eec.org.au

    Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/EECouncil

    Email us at [email protected]

    To find out how you can listen to an upcoming episode of First Fuel live, visit www.eec.org.au/podcasts

  • Episode 83: Heavy industry, lighter loads: competitiveness through efficiency panel from 2022 Energy Efficiency Summit

    This week’s episode of First Fuel is a recording of our panel titled ‘Heavy industry, lighter loads: competitiveness through efficiency’ from the 2022 National Energy Efficiency Summit.

    In this panel, speakers Holly Taylor (Chair), Head of Projects, Energy Efficiency Council was joined by Jon Jutsen, CEO, RACE for 2030; Sharon Champness, Manager HR Safety and Environment, Molycop; andAlison Reeve, Energy and Climate Deputy Program Director, Grattan Institute.

    The panel discusses the big energy productivity opportunities available in Australia’s industrial sector and the support, skills and policy settings we will need to unlock it.

    You can watch a video version of this panel and all our panels from the 2022 National Energy Efficiency Summit at eec.org.au/summit22

    Key topics:

    ‘Easy wins’ for energy efficiency in industry

    CRC’s work in decarbonising the industrial sector

    Policy signals for incentivising investment

    What an industrial energy efficiency strategy needs to have (and not have)

    Jobs and skills needed for the energy transition

    Connect with us

    Find Luke at https://twitter.com/lukemenzel
    Find out more about the Energy Efficiency Council at www.eec.org.au
    Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/EECouncil
    Email us [email protected]

    To find out how you can listen to an upcoming episode of First Fuel live, visit www.eec.org.au/podcasts

  • This week’s episode of First Fuel is a recording of our panel titled ‘Batteries of the nation: zero emissions commercial buildings’ from the 2022 National Energy Efficiency Summit.

    In this panel, Francesca Muskovic, National Policy Director of Property Council of Australia, was joined by: Davina Rooney, CEO, Green Building Council of Australia; Carlos Flores, Director, NABERs; and David Palin, Sustainability Manager, Mirvac.

    This expert panel considers what has been achieved on energy efficiency in Australia’s commercial building sector and how much more there is to do: driving decarbonisation outside the office sector, helping commercial buildings transition from gas to heat pumps, and making sure that commercial buildings are playing there part in a high penetration renewable grid.

    You can watch a video version of this panel and all our panels from the 2022 National Energy Efficiency Summit at eec.org.au/summit22

    Key topics:

    State of play for commercial building efficiency in Australia

    The challenge of residual gas use in commercial buildings

    Smart integration of all electric buildings into a renewable grid

    The case for a national energy saving target

    Connect with us

    Find Luke at https://twitter.com/lukemenzel
    Find out more about the Energy Efficiency Council at www.eec.org.au
    Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/EECouncil
    Email us [email protected]

    To find out how you can listen to an upcoming episode of First Fuel live, visit www.eec.org.au/podcasts

  • This week’s episode of First Fuel is a recording of our panel titled ‘Efficient, Electric and affordable: Creating better homes,’ from the 2022 National Energy Efficiency Summit.

    In this panel, Program Director of Climate and Energy at ACOSS, Kellie Caught, was joined by: Vanessa Davis, Researcher, Tagentyere Council; Margot Delafoulhouze, Systems Lead - Cities, Climateworks Centre; and Ben Milsom, co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer, Plenti.

    In a wide-ranging session, this expert panel discuss the huge positive impacts of energy efficiency and standardisation on residential homes, particularly on social and low income housing, and those in remote parts of Australia, where energy poverty can create literally life threatening circumstances.

    You can watch a video version of this panel and all our panels from the 2022 National Energy Efficiency Summit at eec.org.au/summit22

    Key topics:

    The opportunities and benefits of residential energy efficiency Existing building stock and retrofits Energy efficiency financing in residential sector Looking to overseas for incentive inspiration Energy efficiency disclosure for existing buildings

    Connect with us

    Find Luke at https://twitter.com/lukemenzel
    Find out more about the Energy Efficiency Council at www.eec.org.au
    Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/EECouncil
    Email us [email protected]

    To find out how you can listen to an upcoming episode of First Fuel live, visit www.eec.org.au/podcasts

  • This episode of First Fuel is a recording of the Leaders Panel at the 2022 National Energy Efficiency Summit. Delivered in person from Sydney, and streamed to  a national online audience, the Summit brought together government, global experts, prominent consumer advocates and our largest industry associations for a unique, economy-wide discussion on the role of energy efficiency in this moment and beyond. 

    In this panel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel was joined by: Edwina MacDonald, Acting CEO, ACOSS; Innes Willox, Chief Executive, Ai Group; Ken Morrison, Chief Executive, Property Council of Australia, Senator the Hon Jenny McAllister; and California Energy Commissioner Andrew McAllister.

    You can watch a video version of this panel and all our panels from the 2022 National Energy Efficiency Summit at eec.org.au/summit22

    Key topics:

    Energy efficiency and its role in Australia’s net zero target Supporting vulnerable households through the net zero transformation Critical role of energy efficiency for business Learning from California’s approach to the demand side What’s left to be done – and some advice to the federal government

    Connect with us

    Find Luke at https://twitter.com/lukemenzel
    Find out more about the Energy Efficiency Council at www.eec.org.au
    Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/EECouncil
    Email us [email protected]

  • Recorded in front of an intimate live audience in Melbourne on the eve of the 2022 Energy Efficiency Summit, episode 79 features Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel in conversation with California Energy Commissioner Andrew McAllister.

    This was Commissioner McAllister’s first visit to Australia in five years, and this fascinating and wide-ranging discussion range from what compelled Ronald Reagan to make energy efficiency central to California’s policy in the 1970s, through to why “the matching of supply and demand is the concept of our time.”

    Mentioned in this episode:

    California’s Warren-Alquist Act

    Key topics:

    California's integration of building code and appliance standards with generation permitting and demand forecasting. Managing demand growth over time The crucial importance of building standards Load flexibility and management Energy reliability during extreme weather The importance of “quality” electrification

    Connect with our guest:

    Find the California Energy Commission at https://twitter.com/calenergyConnect with us:
    Find Luke at https://twitter.com/lukemenzel
    Find out more about the Energy Efficiency Council at www.eec.org.au
    Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/EECouncil
    Email us [email protected]
    To find out how you can listen to an upcoming episode of First Fuel live, visit www.eec.org.au/podcasts

  • In Episode 78 of First Fuel we bring you a panel discussion from the launch of the Energy Efficiency Council’s sector spotlight on energy management opportunities for Australian farms, released in partnership with the National Farmers Federation in late 2021.

    Luke Menzel, CEO of the EEC is joined by Ash Salardini, Chief Economist at NFF, Edwina Beveridge, Blantyre Farms; Dean Cayley, Cayley Farms; and Karin Stark, the founder of the National Renewables in Agriculture Conference. This fantastic panel digs into how the leaders in the Aussie farm sector are approaching smart energy management.

    Mentioned in this episode:

    Navigating a dynamic energy landscape: A briefing for farms

    Connect with us:

    Find Luke at https://twitter.com/lukemenzel

    Find out more about the Energy Efficiency Council at www.eec.org.au

    Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/EECouncil

    Email us at [email protected]

    To find out how you can listen to an upcoming episode of First Fuel live, visit www.eec.org.au/podcasts

  • In Episode 77 of First Fuel, EEC’s CEO Luke Menzel is joined by the Secretary General of the European Heat Pump Association, Thomas Nowak.

    Even prior to the war in Ukraine, Europe was already warming up to heat pumps, but the need to get away from Russian gas has supercharged that effort. Today, the European Commission has a plan to double the rate of heat pump deployment, with Germany announcing a ‘heat pump offensive’, to take the annual install rate to half a million per year. As another example, the Netherlands - one of the most gas-reliant countries in the world - will ban fossil fuel heating from 2026, making heat pumps mandatory.

    Needless to say, Thomas is at the forefront of this movement. In this episode, he and Luke discuss the pace of change in Europe, the opportunity to leverage this technology in Australian homes, commercial buildings and industry, and the need to educate the public about the transformative benefits of heat pumps for climate, health and hip-pocket.

    Mentioned in this episode:
    RePowerEU
    First Fuel 69: 'An overnight success, a decade in the making' with Adrian Joyce

    Key topics:
    What is the European Heat Pump Association?
    The gas crisis and the EU’s response
    Heat pumps in residential buildings, commercial buildings and industry
    The role of refrigerants in heat pumps, and effectively managing climate impacts

    Connect with our guests:
    Find Thomas at https://twitter.com/ThomasNowakEU

    Connect with us:
    Find Luke at https://twitter.com/lukemenzel
    Find out more about the Energy Efficiency Council at www.eec.org.au
    Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/EECouncil
    Email us at [email protected]
    To find out how you can listen to an upcoming episode of First Fuel live, visit www.eec.org.au/podcasts

  • In Episode 76 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is joined by New Zealand’s Minister of Energy and Resources, Dr Megan Woods.

    Luke and Minister Woods discuss New Zealand’s legislated climate targets, New Zealand’s proud history of action on energy efficiency, and two of the nation's flagship energy efficiency programs, the Government Investment in Decarbonising Industry Fund (GIDI) and the Warmer Kiwi Homes program.

    Mentioned in this episode:

    Aotearoa New Zealand’s First Emissions Reduction Plan Warmer Kiwi Homes programme Government Investment in Decarbonising Industry Fund

    Key topics:

    New Zealand’s climate policy architecture The use of sectoral targets in the net zero transformation Why has energy efficiency has been so important to New Zealand policy-making New Zealand’s investment to decarbonise industry The Warmer Kiwi Homes programme, and its role in improving the lives of vulnerable households

    Connect with our guests:

    Find Minister Woods at https://twitter.com/Megan_Woods

    Connect with us:

    Find Luke at https://twitter.com/lukemenzel

    Find out more about the Energy Efficiency Council at www.eec.org.au

    Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/EECouncil

    Email us at [email protected]

    To find out how you can listen to an upcoming episode of First Fuel live, visit www.eec.org.au/podcasts

  • In Episode 75 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is joined by Professor Nick Eyre, Director at Oxford University's Centre for Research into Energy Demand Solutions (CREDS).

    Luke and Nick discuss the impact of the European gas crisis on UK energy consumers and what can be done about it. They also dig into the UK Government’s Heat and Buildings Strategy, and Nick’s recent paper – co-authored with Jan Rosenow of RAP – Reinventing energy efficiency for net zero.

    This episode was recorded at Oxford University on Thursday 7 July 2022.  

    Mentioned in this episode:

    UK Heat and Buildings Strategy Reinventing energy efficiency for net zero 

    Key topics:

    Gas crisis impacts on UK consumers Strategies for decarbonising heat in buildings Heat pump targets and deployment in UK Flexibility in the context of different renewable technology mixes The evolving role of efficiency as we journey to net zero

    Connect with our guests:

    Find CREDS at https://twitter.com/@CREDS_UK

    Connect with us:

    Find Luke at https://twitter.com/lukemenzel

    Find out more about the Energy Efficiency Council at www.eec.org.au

    Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/EECouncil

    Email us at [email protected]

    To find out how you can listen to an upcoming episode of First Fuel live, visit www.eec.org.au/podcasts

  • In Episode 74 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is joined by Brian Motherway, Head of Energy Efficiency at International Energy Agency.

    Recorded on 4 July 2022 at the International Energy Agency headquarters in Paris, Luke and Brian take stock of the current state of energy efficiency efforts around the globe. They consider the impact of the current global energy crisis, unpack the outcomes IEA’s 2022 Energy Efficiency Conference, and look at emerging trends in electrification, flexibility and industry.

    Video updates:

    This is the fourth in a series of episodes recorded during Luke’s recent trip to Europe.

    To see the video updates produced during the trip visit

    https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiEzC40kXieRYiEmpjjitdq7IMYkNyiBN

    Mentioned in this episode:

    First Fuel Episode 2: Energy efficiency and economic stimulus with Dr. Brian Motherway

    Net Zero by 2050: A Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector (IEA)

    Key topics:

    The global energy crisis and its impact on Europe Key outcomes of the IEA's 2022 Energy Efficiency Conference 2022 Trends in electrification of buildings Best practices on enabling demand side flexibility Innovation in industrial management

    Connect with our guests:

    Find Brian at https://twitter.com/BrianRMotherway

    Connect with us:

    Find Luke at https://twitter.com/lukemenzel

    Find out more about the Energy Efficiency Council at www.eec.org.au

    Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/EECouncil

    Email us at [email protected]

    To find out how you can listen to an upcoming episode of First Fuel live, visit www.eec.org.au/podcasts

  • In Episode 73 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is again joined by Francesca Muskovic, Director – National Policy at the Property Council of Australia, and Carlos Flores, Director of the National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS).

    In this, the second part of a bumper double episode of First Fuel, Luke, Frankie, and Carlos go deep on electrification of buildings, which emerged as a major theme of their recent delegation to Germany. They discuss the ways in which the war in Ukraine is driving a major policy push to get off Russian gas, the incentives, skills and supply chains that will help Germany meet its electrification targets, and what lessons Australia can learn as we seek to decarbonise our own building stock.

    Video updates:

    This is the third in a series of episodes recorded during Luke’s recent European trip. To see the video updates produced during the trip, visit https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiEzC40kXieRYiEmpjjitdq7IMYkNyiBN

    Key topics:

    ● The Russian-Ukraine conflict, and Europe’s accelerating path to electrification

    ● Overcoming the challenges of electrifying existing commercial buildings

    ● The critical role of trade skills and business models in enabling electrification

    ● Global manufacturing capacity and supply chains for heat pumps

    Connect with our guests:

    Connect with Frankie: https://twitter.com/FrankieMuskovic

    Connect with Carlos: https://twitter.com/carlosfloreslen

    Connect with us:

    Find Luke at https://twitter.com/lukemenzel

    Find out more about the Energy Efficiency Council at www.eec.org.au

    Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/EECouncil

    Email us at [email protected]

    To find out how you can listen to an upcoming episode of First Fuel live, visit www.eec.org.au/podcasts