In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss due diligence in the electrical and power industry.

They discuss due diligence and risk management considerations in the sector, with examples that focus on renewable energy sources like wind turbines and the potential role of nuclear power in Australia's energy mix. Key points include:

• The need to carefully assess and document the safety and emergency protocols even for foreseeable events like fires.
• The trade-offs involved in designing effective systems which can sometimes introduce new risks.
• The challenges of transitioning to a more distributed, renewable-heavy electrical grid, including the need for reliable baseload power and the shifting seasonal demand patterns in Australia.
• The thorough, "cradle-to-grave" approach taken by Finland in developing nuclear power, which may serve as a model for Australia.
• The difficulty of developing a coherent, long-term national energy policy due to the political complexities involved.

Find out more about Richard and Gaye’s consulting work at https://www.r2a.com.au.

The full episode on Nuclear Power is Episode 9, Season 2 of this podcast.