On this episode of First Fuel Luke is joined by the Energy Efficiency Council's founding CEO and long-time Head of Policy, Rob Murray-Leach.

Now an independent consultant, Rob was commissioned by the EEC and RACE for 2030 to produce a green paper on energy governance reform in the National Electricity Market.

In a conversation coinciding with the ⁠green paper⁠'s launch for consultation, Luke and Rob discuss how Australia ended up with our current energy governance system, why it needs a revamp to meet the challenges of the energy transition, and some of the broad directions for reform set out in the green paper.

A white paper with firm recommendations will be released later this year.

On this episode of First Fuel, Luke is joined by Australia's Minister for Energy and Climate Change, Chris Bowen.

Recorded live at the EEC National Conference 2025, they discuss what hosting a global climate change conference in Adelaide in 2026 would mean for Australia, why efficiency and electrification will be a big priority in the Albanese Government's second term, and the role of the Commonwealth in providing the information households need to make decisions about investing in new gas appliances, or going electric.

On this episode of First Fuel we're joined by Energy Consumers Australia CEO Brendan French to discuss ECA's 2024 Consumer Energy Report Card.

Brendan and Luke talk about how Australians are feeling about energy in 2024, why social license is just as big an issue in the suburbs as it is in the regions, and the actions we need to take to ensure every household benefits from the transition.

On this special episode of First Fuel we catch up with Australia's Assistant Minster for Climate and Energy Josh Wilson on the ground at COP29 in Azerbaijan.

Luke and Josh discuss the impact of Donald Trump's election on global climate talks, how we're tracking on the big global energy efficiency target set at COP28, and how global factors will impact Australia's emissions reduction ambition as we look towards 2035.

On this episode of First Fuel we're joined by Climate Change Authority CEO Brad Archer to dig into their latest blockbuster report, the 2024 Sector Pathways Review.

This a big report that digs deep into decarbonisation pathways for six key economic sectors, as well as the cross cutting actions governments will need to pursue to get us on a trajectory to net zero by 2050.

Luke caught up with Brad at CCA HQ in Canberra to talk about the big take outs from the report, the implications for Australia's 2035 emissions reduction target, and what the CCA means when it talks about a 'zero carbon mindset'.

On 1 August, Matt Kean will become chair of the https://www.climatechangeauthority.gov.au/.

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.

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

First Fuel returns with a very special episode this month, featuring none other than Amory Lovins, co-founder of RMI and an Adjunct Professor at Stanford University.

At the end of an incredible week that included Australia's first Industrial Decarbonisation Summit and the 2024 EEC National Conference, Amory joined our host and EEC CEO Luke Menzel to reflect on where Australia finds itself at this point in our energy transition.

Luke and Amory also discussed Amory's history with Australia, his thoughts on the potential for energy management in the near and long-term future, nuclear power and much more. As you'd expect from the man dubbed 'the Einstein of Energy Efficiency' this is a wide-ranging, solutions-focussed 30 minutes of conversation that is overflowing with ideas.

A guest of the EEC at 2023's National Energy Efficiency Conference, Dr Jessica Granderson

In this episode, Luke and Jessica explore the ins and outs of smart buildings, discussing

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Of the many positives to come from the 2023 National Energy Efficiency Conference, one of the biggest was the opportunity to bring Jan Rosenow to Australia for the first time.

In the world of energy efficiency, Dr Rosenow needs little introduction. With his day job leading European Programs at the Regulatory Assistance Project, Jan also serves on the Executive Committee of the International Energy Agency’s demand-side management program, and sits on the board of the European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (he also makes time to maintain an excellent social media presence).

After delivering his keynote at the conference, Dr Rosenow sat down with EEC CEO Luke Menzel to reflect on how Australia can effectively prioritise our raft of energy challenges. The pair also discuss their confidence in electrification as the way forward in the building sector, the role of electrification relative to hydrogen in other sectors, and why it’s useful to retain a little scepticism around net zero targets if they’re not immediately paired with plans to hit them.

As always, this episode of First Fuel is a freewheeling ride that goes deep with some of the best minds in the energy efficiency business.

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eec.org.au