This week we’re joined by Brian Innes, founder of Plico, an innovator in the VPP space. Brian shares his journey into the energy industry and explains Plico’s unique membership model, designed to address key challenges of owning and operating DER in Australia.

We explore the importance of customer education and engagement, flexible ownership structures, and the critical role of asset management and ongoing support in successful VPPs. The conversation also looks ahead to future trends, including the growing integration of electric vehicles into the energy ecosystem.

Episode Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:55 Brian Innes’s Journey into Energy

05:48 The Birth of Plico

08:47 Unpacking the Membership Model

11:36 Customer Engagement & Behavioral Insights

14:37 Navigating the Energy Market

17:24 Core Pillars of Service and Support

19:52 Community Engagement & Civic Responsibility

22:29 Asset Management & Operational Efficiency

25:23 Funding Challenges & Growth Strategies

27:40 Future of Plico

In this episode of Energy Unpacked we talk with Nicole, Chief Strategy Officer from 5B about the innovative Maverick solar technology, including its advantages in deployment speed and land use efficiency. We also discuss the company's global expansion strategy and learnings, risk management in large projects, and the importance of customer feedback in product development. A particularly great episode for innovators in the clean technology space.

Episode chapters:

00:00 Introduction

01:13 Understanding 5B

05:50 Cost and Time Advantages of 5B's Technology

11:00 Challenges and Roadmap of 5B's Technology

13:28 Global Expansion and Market Relevance

21:26 Scaling Hardware Innovation in Australia

26:44 Key Pivots in 5B's Journey

30:35 Lessons for Other Startups

33:59 Future of Gigawatt Scale Projects and Data Centers

We’re back!

After a year away, Adam White and Bronte Wilson return with Season 3 of Energy Unpacked — and this time, we’re going deeper.

This season features two focused mini-series:1. 🔬 InnovationExploring how the energy transition demands more than just deploying existing tech. We unpack innovation across:

• Hard-to-abate sectors

• Carbon capture 

• Community VPP models 

• AI and data centers

2.⚡ Grid-Scale ProjectsA deep dive into large-scale solar, wind, batteries, and transmission. We ask:

• Are we building fast enough?

• What’s holding projects back?

• How do developers de-risk billion-dollar infrastructure?

Plus, we share a few personal updates and introduce the new team member helping bring Season 3 to life.

Honest conversations. Real challenges. Practical insights.

This podcast is all about breaking down topics related to the Australian Energy Transition, a transition from a fossil-fuel-dependent and centralised energy system to a decentralised renewable-based one. If you’re passionate about climate change or the energy industry or just want to learn more about the Energy Transition please plug in.

Are distribution networks more than just poles and wires? Could they be the platforms that enable a smarter, more flexible energy future? And if so—what do we need to unlock their full potential?

In our final episode of Season 2, we sit down with Andy Dunne from Ausgrid, who is leading Project Edith, a pioneering initiative focused on enabling flexible resources through innovative network pricing.

We discuss:

⚡ How Project Edith is helping to refine how flexible assets interact with distribution networks

🔗 The potential of dynamic local pricing

🚀 Key learnings and challenges from the project so far

🔮 What’s could be next for network innovation in Australia

You can find out more about Project Edith here https://www.ausgrid.com.au/About-Us/Future-Grid/Project-Edith

If you’ve been following along this season, thank you! We’ve loved unpacking the big questions around the energy transition, decentralisation, and the future of the grid—and we’ll be back soon.

This week on Energy Unpacked, we're joined by Business Development Manager Sinead Steele from Energy Locals to discuss innovative energy solutions for high-rise developments. 🌇

Episode Highlights:

🤝 Partnering early for cost-effective solutions and future-proofed sites

🌟 Creating value for all customers

🚗 Demand for EV charging and electrification

⚡ The impact of changing regulation on embedded network design

Many high-rise building residents miss out on the benefits of solar and other low-carbon solutions. It’s exciting to see new developments integrating this infrastructure, making it easier for tenants to benefit.

You can learn more about Energy Local’s projects here https://energylocals.com.au/projects/

In this episode we are joined by industry guru Andy McCarthy, who has recently published his first book "Here Comes the Sun." We delve into crucial energy transition themes, including the development of our future workforce, building trust in communities, and the importance of behind-the-meter assets in our energy system.

Connect with Andy McCarthy: Learn more about Andy and his book "Here Comes the Sun" at andymccarthy.com.au.

On this episode of Energy Unpacked, we are thrilled to welcome Slava Kozlovskii, the CEO of evee to discuss the all electric car rental and sharing platform.

Tune in to learn how the platform works and compares to other car-sharing and rental options, including:

🌟 Unique platform features

👥 Typical customer segments and trip lengths

🏠 Superior value proposition to hosts, and the

🌍 Benefits to our environment

Check out evee here https://www.evee.com.au/?srsltid=AfmBOoolxoCcn0Jaf6bHohz-cM7cpE9ytZywNtq1DreAOC3ITYPA4_7X

We were blown away by our conversation with Kira Rundel from RayGen this week, an Australian technology company that has developed a cutting-edge solar thermal and long-duration storage solution. Kira, who heads up Strategic Projects, shared insights on:

It’s hard not to get excited hearing about clever solutions to critical energy transition challenges.

You can learn more about RayGen here https://raygen.com/

🎙 This week’s episode is a fun conversation on EV charging and e-mobility trends. To help us unpack this topic we are interviewing our old colleague and favourite marketer, Rob Asseleman, who heads up marketing at Chargefox. 

Rob talks to us about the drivers shaping EV charging locations, utilisation, and technology choices both publicly and privately (and in his own home). We could chat to Rob all day and hope you enjoy this customer centric conversation 😎

You can learn more about Chargefox’s network and services here https://www.chargefox.com/

This week, Tom Gay from Origin Energy joins our podcast to provide a comprehensive overview of Virtual Power Plants (VPPs). In this episode we go back to basics, covering what a VPP is, and how it can support different players in the energy transition. If you're curious about how to get additional value from your battery, heat pump, or EV charger, or simply want to understand some of the VPP products available in the market, this episode is for you.

We’re not as quick as we would like! Please note that this episode was recorded in August 2024, and specific product offers and details mentioned in this episode should be verified. You can learn more about Origin Energy’s VPP offerings here https://www.originenergy.com.au/solar/panels-batteries/virtual-power-plant/