First Fuel – Details, episodes & analysis

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 Linkedin Email us at firstfuel@eec.org.au To 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 firstfuel@eec.org.au

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 firstfuel@eec.org.au

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 firstfuel@eec.org.au

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 firstfuel@eec.org.au

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 firstfuel@eec.org.au
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 firstfuel@eec.org.au

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 firstfuel@eec.org.au
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 firstfuel@eec.org.au

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 firstfuel@eec.org.au

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