Wired for Good: Conversations for a Better Energy Future
Published by Ausgrid
Technology
Welcome to Wired for Good: Conversations for a Better Energy Future—the podcast brought to you by Ausgrid that dives into the heart of Australia’s energy transformation. Hosted by electrification advocate Sarah Aubrey, each episode explores how we can build a faster, fairer, and more affordable energy landscape for all Australians. This series brings together top experts and industry leaders to answer the big questions: What will it take to achieve an energy future that benefits everyone? How can we make this transition both impactful and inclusive? Join us each month as we uncover the possibilities, spark collaboration, and drive real change—one powerful conversation at a time.
What happens when Australia’s business sector is forced to reckon with the real cost of staying fossil-fuelled? Host Sarah Aubrey is joined by Nigel Lowry (Ausgrid) and Dani Alexander (UNSW Energy Institute) to unpack the high-stakes challenge of electrifying everything from freight and transport to buildings and data centres. They explore the scale of business emissions, the hardest sectors to decarbonise, the race for EV infrastructure, and what oil shocks mean for energy independence - alongside the growing pressure data centres place on the grid and how organisations are tackling their own transition. This episode covers: business emissions; heavy freight electrification; EV infrastructure; diesel dependency; grid capacity; data centres; fleet and building decarbonisation; hydrogen vs electrification; and the policy needed to accelerate change.
In part two of this special episode, host Sarah Aubrey is joined by Lord Adair Turner, Chair of the Energy Transitions Commission, to continue the conversation on the global energy transition — tackling the hard questions on affordability, equity, electrification and investment. The discussion turns to the cost-of-living challenge and energy affordability, new global electrification targets, the unstoppable EV revolution, equity issues for renters and low-income households, and what governments must do to attract the capital investment needed. Part 2 covers: managing transition costs and the truth about energy bills; global electrification targets and COP 31; the EV revolution and the future of heavy transport; equity challenges for renters and low-income households; attracting capital investment; and global success stories from India, China, Norway, Ethiopia and Pakistan.
In this special two-part episode, host Sarah Aubrey is joined by Lord Adair Turner, Chair of the Energy Transitions Commission (ETC), for a wide-ranging conversation on the global energy transition and Australia’s critical role in it. The conversation goes global; examining where the world stands against the Paris Agreement targets, which countries are leading and lagging, and the remarkable cost revolution underway in solar and battery technology that is reshaping what is possible. Part 1 covers the role of the ETC and how it drives global change; the state of decarbonisation worldwide; Australia’s coal dependency and what must change; the rapid cost decline of solar and batteries; and why Sunbelt countries like Australia are best placed to lead the next phase of the energy transition.
In this episode, host Sarah Aubrey speaks with Kelly Wood, Group Executive for Transmission Development & Growth at Ausgrid and Mark Westbrook, Chief Project Officer at EnergyCo about how upgrading existing sub-transmission corridors in the Hunter Central Coast REZ could unlock faster, cheaper and more community-friendly renewable energy capacity. They explore the opportunities, challenges and long-term planning needed to reshape NSW’s grid; from smarter use of existing easements to coordinated state-wide planning for both transmission and distribution.
The DSP represents an incredible collaboration between Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy and Essential Energy to understand how distribution networks can play a bigger role in meeting NSW’s net zero targets. Sarah Aubrey is joined by Ausgrid’s Alida Jansen van Vuuren, Endeavour’s Melissa Doueihi and Essential’s Marc Thiebaut to explore how better use of existing poles, wires and sub-transmission infrastructure can unlock billions in value, defer transmission investment, support local storage, and help deliver a more equitable transition for customers across the state. With insights into community batteries, orchestration of rooftop solar and the future role of networks as system operators, this episode shows why distribution is becoming one of the most important levers in shaping the future grid.
How are Community Power Networks shaping Australia’s energy transition—and what would their growing role mean for our future? In this episode Steve Lewis Project Director, at Ausgrid and Sam Kernaghan, Director - Resilience Program from Committee for Sydney discuss how technologies like rooftop solar, batteries, and smart networks can make clean, locally generated power more accessible and affordable. They explore the untapped potential of commercial rooftops, the role of community batteries in sharing excess energy, and the benefits for renters, apartment dwellers, and businesses. The conversation highlights how local generation can cut energy bills, strengthen grid stability, accelerate decarbonisation, and deliver collective benefits for communities.
Kicking off a new season and reflecting on what we’ve covered and where we’re going for season 2. Host Sarah Aubrey sits down with Tim Jarratt, Ausgrid’s Group Executive of Market Development and Strategy, touching on the evolution we’ve seen in Australia’s energy landscape and look ahead to some exciting innovations. Tune in to have a look at what’s shaping Australia’s energy future. Season 2 will dive into “Why the Middle Matters”—shining a light on the vital role of local networks and community infrastructure in driving a faster, fairer, and more affordable clean energy transition. In this episode Sarah and Tim dive into innovation at the heart of the grid: bridging access gaps in rooftop solar, scaling community batteries, and boosting collaboration across industry and regulators. Tim also shares global insights on emerging tech—from vehicle-to-grid systems to AI-powered network management.
Is the future of Australia’s energy system riding on better grid connections? In this, our final episode of the season, we’re joined by Fatima Bazzi, Head of Customer Connections at Ausgrid, and Stuart Ayres, CEO of the Urban Development Institute of Australia (NSW), to unpack how grid connections are evolving to support a smarter, cleaner energy future. Together, they explore the big questions: How can the grid keep up with growing demand from EVs, renewables, and data centres? What role does smart planning play in delivering reliable, efficient connections? They also discuss the challenges of electrifying homes and businesses, how the industry is adapting, and what needs to change to ensure our grid is ready for the future.
What does it take to build real community trust in the energy transition? In this episode, host Sarah Aubrey is joined by Matt Kean, Chair of the Climate Change Authority and former NSW Energy Minister, and Kelly Wood, Group Executive for Transmission Development & Growth at Ausgrid to unpack what’s working, and what initiatives are being explored when it comes to community benefits of the energy transition. They explore how to build genuine trust, the importance of consultation, and how infrastructure can be delivered with communities, not to them. From sharing benefits to shifting mindsets, this episode is all about making the transition faster, fairer and more inclusive.
Is energy storage the key to unlocking a more reliable and affordable energy future? In this episode, we’re joined by Frank Calabria, CEO and Managing Director of Origin Energy, and Rob Amphlett Lewis, Group Executive Distributed Services & PLUS ES at Ausgrid, to explore how innovations in energy storage are transforming Australia’s energy landscape. Together, they tackle the big questions: How can households and businesses benefit from battery storage? How can storage bring down the cost of the energy transition for everyone? They also discuss the role of retailers, networks, and policymakers in making energy storage more accessible, the emerging non-battery alternatives, and what needs to happen next to unlock the full potential of this game-changing technology.
Could unlocking distribution networks be the key to a faster, more affordable energy transition? In this episode, Dom van den Berg, CEO of Energy Networks Australia, and Tim Jarratt, Group Executive – Market Development and Strategy at Ausgrid, explore how Distribution Network Service Providers (DNSPs) can help accelerate the shift to clean energy. Together, they tackle the big questions: How can smarter use of existing infrastructure cut costs for consumers? What’s holding networks back? And what needs to change to make the transition more accessible for everyone?
Is moving away from gas the key to a more sustainable and affordable future? In this episode, we’re joined by Brendan French, CEO of Energy Consumers Australia, and Marc England, CEO of Ausgrid, to explore how home electrification is reshaping Australia’s energy landscape and saving households money. Together, they tackle the big questions: What’s in it for households? Are the long-term savings compelling enough to outweigh upfront costs? Can the grid support widespread electrification? They also discuss the biggest barriers holding households back, the role of industry and networks in driving change, and what needs to happen to accelerate the shift.
Are EVs the key to reducing energy costs and cutting emissions in Australia? In this episode, we’re joined by Doug McNamee, Founder and CEO of JOLT, and Rob Amphlett Lewis, Group Executive - Distributed Services & PLUS ES at Ausgrid, to unpack the challenges and opportunities in the EV space. Together, they tackle the pressing questions: Why has the EV transition slowed in Australia? Is our grid ready to handle the surge in EV adoption? What’s being done to make EV charging more accessible at home and beyond? They also explore Ausgrid’s role in driving the shift towards an electric future and discuss the pivotal infrastructure needed to support widespread EV uptake.
How can we integrate renewables into the grid at lightning speed? In this episode, we’re joined by Junayd Hollis, Group Executive - Customer, Assets & Digital at Ausgrid, and Eamon Waterford, CEO of the Committee for Sydney, to explore strategies for fast-tracking the energy transition. Together, they dive into the big questions: Are we doing enough to drive change? How can households and businesses play a bigger role? What lessons can we learn from other regions further along their renewable journey? They also discuss the potential of unlocking rooftop solar, the balance between large-scale and local generation, and whether a focus on distribution networks could help us speed up progress while reducing costs.
How can energy networks evolve to truly meet customer needs and drive a fairer, faster energy transition? Join us as we chat with Gavin Dufty, consumer advocate and National Director of Energy Policy and Research at St Vincent de Paul Society, and Alida Jansen van Vuuren, Head of DSO at Ausgrid. Together, they dive into reshaping energy pricing, enhancing customer flexibility, and transforming networks to create an energy future that benefits everyone.
