Wired for Energy

Dr. Greg Trainor, Neil Belford, and Ben Meek reflect on the inaugural season of Wired for Energy and preview what's coming in 2026.Since launching in May 2025, the podcast has covered remarkable ground—from Jack Kotlyer at Energy Australia discussing commercial EV charging to Tim Washington at Jet Charge rolling out networks across Australia. Each guest brought unique perspectives on the energy transition, from artificial intelligence with Dave King to grid stability innovations with Mark Vincent at South Australian Power Networks, and spatial analytics breakthroughs with Nigel Barry at Intelfuse.Greg, Neil and Ben share their personal highlights from the year. Greg discusses the artificial intelligence episode and how AI will transform home energy management, business models, and network operations—though the energy industry remains characteristically slow to adopt new technology. Ben reflects on the Intelfuse episode, highlighting how Australian utilities' sparse networks drove world-leading innovation in spatial analytics, with Nigel's contrarian hypothesis that individual trees, not just canopy, interfere with power lines. Neil champions Mark Vincent's "Keeping the Lights On" episode, celebrating South Australian Power Networks' light-touch engineering approach to grid stability that used brilliant voltage management ideas rather than expensive infrastructure.Looking ahead to 2026, the team introduces seven new themes: Proof of Life (what's actually working), Digital Frontier (operations and workforce transformation), The Outsiders (innovation from adjacent industries), Social License (customer and community relationships), Government and Regulation (policy frameworks under pressure), The Horizon (academia and future vision), and Capital (infrastructure investment and funding). These themes will focus on execution over theory, examining real solutions to the challenges everyone faces in the energy transition.(02:00) Season overview and diverse guest perspectives(04:00) Greg's highlight: artificial intelligence with Dave King(10:00) Ben's highlight: spatial analytics innovation with Nigel Barry(14:00) Neil's highlight: Mark Vincent and grid stability solutions(18:00) Theme One: Proof of Life—what's actually working(20:00) Theme Two: Digital Frontier and operations transformation(22:00) Theme Three: The Outsiders bringing non-energy innovation The views and opinions expressed by the guest speaker during this podcast are solely their own and do not reflect the official policy or position of their employer or any other organization they may be affiliated with.Our guest shares personal experiences and insights based on their individual journey, and listeners should understand that these reflections are meant for informational purposes only.Any advice or opinions presented in this podcast should not be construed as professional guidance, and individuals are encouraged to seek their own counsel regarding their specific situations. Wired For Energy is a production of Network Edge, with episodes produced and edited by Posterboy Media.To find more information about the energy transition visit - www.networkedge.io

Join Dr. Greg Trainor and Neil Belford for a special panel discussion with Megan Fisher, CEO of Energy Lab, alongside two breakthrough startups from their portfolio: Dr Thomas Nann, CEO and Co-founder of Allegro Energy, and Nick Hazell, CEO and Founder of Algenie.Energy Lab has spent nearly 10 years building Australia's premier climate tech accelerator, supporting 280 startup alumni through 10 different programs—from launching ventures to scaling internationally. With 450 mentors, 240 angel investors, and deep connections across the energy industry, they're filling a critical gap in specialist support for founders tackling the hardest problems in decarbonisation.This episode showcases two companies at different stages of their journey. Allegro Energy has developed a breakthrough microemulsion electrolyte for long-duration flow batteries, solving cost and safety challenges that have plagued competing technologies. After completing commercial trials with Origin Energy and CSIRO, they're scaling towards grid-scale deployments of 100+ megawatts. Algenie is reimagining algae cultivation with helical photo bioreactors made through plastic extrusion—slashing costs so dramatically that gigatons of CO2 could be sequestered into bioplastics, textiles, food, and fuel. Their technology thrives on intermittent renewable energy, turning grid constraints into competitive advantages.(04:00) Energy Lab overview: programs, mentors, and supporting climate tech founders(10:00) Allegro Energy's microemulsion electrolyte breakthrough for flow batteries(18:00) AR Genie's helical photo bioreactor and the gigaton CO2 opportunity(28:00) International expansion strategies and mentor network value(38:00) Manufacturing in a renewable world and embracing intermittency(44:00) Academic to commercial transition and shifting incentives(50:00) Raising ambition to gigaton scale and making climate impact The views and opinions expressed by the guest speaker during this podcast are solely their own and do not reflect the official policy or position of their employer or any other organization they may be affiliated with.Our guest shares personal experiences and insights based on their individual journey, and listeners should understand that these reflections are meant for informational purposes only.Any advice or opinions presented in this podcast should not be construed as professional guidance, and individuals are encouraged to seek their own counsel regarding their specific situations. Wired For Energy is a production of Network Edge, with episodes produced and edited by Posterboy Media.To find more information about the energy transition visit - www.networkedge.io

Dr. Greg Trainor and Neil Belford speak with Alan Hunter, CEO and Founder of NRN (National Renewable Network), and Jess Padman, Director of Energy Products, about their innovative approach to making renewable energy accessible to everyone—without the upfront costs, maintenance headaches, or complexity.This episode explores how NRN has reimagined solar and battery adoption by removing the financial barrier. Instead of customers buying their own systems, NRN installs, owns, and maintains the assets, then licenses them to energy retailers who use the capacity 24/7 for their hedging strategies. Customers simply get lower energy bills—typically saving $700-$1000 annually—without any capital investment or maintenance risk.Alan shares his journey from door-to-door solar sales to discovering that the traditional ownership model wasn't working for many Australians. Jess explains the sophisticated digital platform that makes the entire customer journey seamless, from quoting through to installation tracking.The conversation tackles critical industry challenges: why only 15% of battery owners join VPP programs (even among early adopters), the conflict of interest across stakeholders when customers own their assets, and why $2.3 billion in battery subsidies aren't solving grid problems. Learn how NRN's model eliminates these conflicts by positioning energy retailers as the true customers, how they size systems to maximise retailer profitability while delivering customer savings, and their vision for expanding into heat pumps and EV charging—potentially even vehicle leasing as part of the energy plan.(05:00) NRN's business model: install, own, maintain, and license to energy retailers(11:00) Digital platform advantage and keeping customers engaged through simplicity(18:00) Evolution from residential PPAs and partnering with solar retailers(24:00) Why only 15% of battery owners join VPPs, and the $2.3 billion subsidy question(30:00) Working with distribution networks and government partnerships(35:00) Startup advice and future expansion into heat pumps and EV solutions(40:00) System sizing strategy and the need for retailer-network collaboration  The views and opinions expressed by the guest speaker during this podcast are solely their own and do not reflect the official policy or position of their employer or any other organization they may be affiliated with.Our guest shares personal experiences and insights based on their individual journey, and listeners should understand that these reflections are meant for informational purposes only.Any advice or opinions presented in this podcast should not be construed as professional guidance, and individuals are encouraged to seek their own counsel regarding their specific situations. Wired For Energy is a production of Network Edge, with episodes produced and edited by Posterboy Media.To find more information about the energy transition visit - www.networkedge.io

Dr Greg Trainor speaks with Nigel Barry, Founder and CEO of Intelfuse, about the dramatic transformation of vegetation management from gut instinct to precision data science. With over 30 years in the industry, Nigel shares how his experience witnessing the devastating Ash Wednesday fires shaped his career mission to protect communities and infrastructure.This episode explores how LiDAR technology, digital twins, and AI are revolutionising how utilities manage the single largest cause of power outages. Nigel explains the "vegetation management equation" and why traditional methods had only 42% repeatability—meaning the same tree inspected by 10 people would yield the same result just four times. Learn how Intelfuse is achieving 99.9% repeatability and enabling utilities to know every tree on their network.The conversation covers Nigel's transformative experience with Florida Power & Light's 35 Mules innovation program, the future of robotic tree cutting, and why viewing trees as assets changes everything. Discover how digital inspection, automated compliance, and continuous drone monitoring are creating a complete "digital line of sight" that's changing utility operations, insurance negotiations, and wildfire prevention strategies across Australia, New Zealand, and North America.(02:00) From aspiring musician to energy industry leader via Ash Wednesday fires(04:00) How the 1983 Ash Wednesday fires shaped a 30-year career mission(06:00) Moving from hourly contracts to performance-based vegetation management(09:00) Why vegetation management was a "black art" until recently(11:00) How the 2003 US system blackout drove LiDAR adoption(13:00) What is LiDAR and how it measures vegetation with 5cm accuracy(16:00) Vegetation as the single largest cause of outages and highest OPEX item(19:00) Learning from US wildfire experiences and insurance industry pressure(21:00) The vegetation management equation: inventory × risk × resources(24:00) Community dialogue and the challenge of two-way electron flow(27:00) Digital twins: applying 60 attributes to every tree as an asset(30:00) How digital proof is transforming utility insurance negotiations(32:00) Why human inspection has only 42% repeatability versus 99.9% with technology(36:00) Reimagining 100-year-old processes through University of Melbourne partnership(39:00) Data quality as the foundation for AI and automation success(41:00) Florida Power & Light's 35 Mules innovation program experience(43:00) Future vision: drones with lasers, robotic cutting, and continuous monitoring(46:00) Complete digital ecosystem: knowing every tree and every action taken The views and opinions expressed by the guest speaker during this podcast are solely their own and do not reflect the official policy or position of their employer or any other organization they may be affiliated with.Our guest shares personal experiences and insights based on their individual journey, and listeners should understand that these reflections are meant for informational purposes only.Any advice or opinions presented in this podcast should not be construed as professional guidance, and individuals are encouraged to seek their own counsel regarding their specific situations. Wired For Energy is a production of Network Edge, with episodes produced and edited by Posterboy Media.To find more information about the energy transition visit - www.networkedge.io

Dr Greg Trainor and Neil Belford sit down with Charles Cattermole, Principal at Outpost Ventures, for a look into the human side of Australia's energy transition. From his accidental entry into energy through the Australian Navy to roles at Green Sync and Energy Australia, Charles shares hard-won insights about scaling innovation within large utilities and the critical importance of people over technology in driving change.The conversation explores the challenges of virtual power plants, the complexity of Australia's energy markets, and why trust remains the biggest barrier to customer adoption of interactive energy products. Charles reveals lessons from successfully scaling a pilot from 20,000 to 250,000 customers, discusses the misalignment between startup accelerators and utility needs, and shares his vision for securitising distributed energy resources like traditional power stations.About Charles:Charles Cattermole is a technical and commercial advisor with over 13 years of experience in the energy sector. Over this period, Charles' experience has ranged from energy management organisations, utilities such as EnergyAustralia and Ausnet, as well as technology companies like GreenSync, Evergen, and AMP X. Charles is also the former treasurer of the Australian Institute of Energy and focuses on helping organisations commercialise products, projects, and services that focus on the energy transition.(01:00) Accidental entry into energy via the Australian Navy(02:00) Early roles in energy auditing and management(03:00) Green Sync, Energy Australia and scaling innovation(04:00) Success stories: 20,000 to 250,000 customers(05:00) Learning from different industry perspectives(06:00) Energy transition is about people, not technology(08:00) Digital natives vs traditional leadership challenges(10:00) Virtual power plants definition and customer trust(12:00) Community energy models and market design constraints(14:00) Body corporate and apartment building challenges(15:00) Risk management frameworks blocking innovation(17:00) Skills shortage and hiring outside the industry(19:00) Importance of customer experience for engineers(20:00) Simple solutions: the IT pager system success story(22:00) Vendor relationships and trust in small industry(23:00) Marvel at electricity reliability despite complexity(25:00) Startup ecosystem and misaligned utility pilots(27:00) Is Australia's three-tier market system outdated?(29:00) Financial risk management for new market entrants(31:00) Vision for securitising distributed energy portfolios(33:00) Career advice: purpose-driven vs career-driven approaches The views and opinions expressed by the guest speaker during this podcast are solely their own and do not reflect the official policy or position of their employer or any other organization they may be affiliated with.Our guest shares personal experiences and insights based on their individual journey, and listeners should understand that these reflections are meant for informational purposes only.Any advice or opinions presented in this podcast should not be construed as professional guidance, and individuals are encouraged to seek their own counsel regarding their specific situations. Wired For Energy is a production of Network Edge, with episodes produced and edited by Posterboy Media.To find more information about the energy transition visit - www.networkedge.io