All Energy Summit Highlights Key Challenges and Opportunities in Australia’s Green Transition
Lidiar Group’s Darren Cave and Lachlan Winterbotham have spent the day at the All Energy Conference in Melbourne. As day 1 wraps up, here are their thoughts on what they have heard so far.
“The All Energy Summit showcased Australia’s push towards a cleaner, greener future, with thought-provoking discussions on carbon taxation, renewable energy targets, and the mental health impact of working in the high-intensity clean energy sector,” said Darren.
“Sessions were highly informative and well attended as All Energy Australia becomes a permanent fixture in the calendars of professionals involved in leading or supporting vital clean energy initiatives.”
“We also welcomed the focus on the sector’s people, not just projects and technologies. At the end of the day, people power projects and the conversations, initiatives and programs that will tackle our mental health challenges are a welcome part of the industry’s future. All of us will be involved in high-pressure projects that will come with unique challenges. Ensuring the people we need have the resources, tools, and professionals to support their well-being is a proactive step that will support the ambitious goals and programs of work we will deliver as part of the clean energy future.,” said Darren.
Renowned economist Ross Garnaut opened the event with a keynote address that emphasised the need for a carbon tax to stimulate private-sector innovation and modern economic growth. Garnaut argued for a “green premium” on the country’s largest polluters, pointing out the stagnation of living standards and underscoring the environmental and economic benefits of such a policy.
Lily D’Ambrosio, Victoria’s Minister for Climate Action, followed Garnaut, sharing the state’s ambitious targets to achieve 95% renewable energy by 2030. D’Ambrosio highlighted the enormous task ahead, which involves developing 25 gigawatts of new wind, solar, and energy storage capacity. She also noted that the shift towards electrification could increase energy demand by 50%, emphasising the scale of Victoria’s energy transformation.
The summit offered attendees key insights into the motivations and challenges faced by various stakeholders across the energy sector. One standout session was the plenary panel discussion on accelerating Australia’s efforts to meet 2035 climate targets, which delved into demand-side management and the practical hurdles facing large-scale renewable projects.
Darren Miller, CEO of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), spoke about the economic challenges of developing alternative energy projects like green steel and hydrogen. He stressed that current wholesale electricity prices make it more viable to sell energy directly to the grid rather than invest in these emerging technologies. Heidi Lee, CEO of Beyond Zero Emissions, echoed these concerns, adding that the success of decarbonisation efforts should not be measured by gigawatts built, but rather by how much fossil fuel-burning generation is displaced.
A particularly poignant session focused on mental health in the renewable energy industry, titled “Riding the Mental Health Solar Coaster.” Led by the Clean Energy Council, the session underscored the high-pressure environment of the sector, where men, in particular, are disproportionately impacted by mental health challenges. Andy McCarthy, a veteran with 25 years in the industry, shared his personal journey, highlighting the importance of peer support and the need for resilience in the face of industry stressors.
Dr. Luke Martin, Clinical Spokesperson for Beyond Blue, provided sobering statistics, noting that Australia loses nine people to suicide each day, seven of whom are men. Martin emphasised the growing complexity of mental health issues, driven by social, political, economic, and environmental factors. Dennis Freedman participated in a discussion on the value of role models and the importance of sharing stories, commending the speakers for their courage in addressing such a critical issue. While the session was powerful, it was disappointing that it wasn’t more enthusiastically attended compared to the packed rooms of other panels.
Other notable sessions included a Green Energy Plenary that explored the challenges of policy, government engagement, and financing in the renewable energy space. Meanwhile, the Startup Showcase offered a glimpse into breakthrough collaborations between organisations such as Powerlink, Origin Energy, and Endeavour Energy, highlighting the innovation driving the future of clean energy in Australia.
