Wednesday 21 June: Re-engineering the Grid Stream

Attend Live or Virtual Event

08:30

Welcome Coffee

08:50

Opening remarks from the Chair

Mark Paterson
Principal
Energy Catalyst

Managing the magnitude of infrastructure build required to support the transition

09:00

INTERNATIONAL KEYNOTE: Creating the ‘perfect’ energy system – how NEOM is building infrastructure from theory to reality

Starting from scratch (no retrofit of a legacy system)
Imagining what needs to be where and creating a system that is not isolated
Building in redundancy and approaches to renewables

Lumi Adisa
Director - Energy Market Analytics
NEOM (Saudi Arabia)

09:30

Facing the realities of net zero and mapping out a strategic transition journey

Focussing on the scale, pace, costs and risks of the energy transition to identify the challenges and opportunities
Mobilising the growth of renewables, clean hydrogen, transmission, CCS, DER and energy efficiency to meet decarbonisation challenges early and comprehensively
Pulling together a comprehensive and timely decarbonisation strategy to make success more likely

Richard Bolt
Principal
Nous Group

09:50

PANEL DISCUSSION: Nailing the magnitude of infrastructure required to support the transition

How can Australia manage the supply chain of deliverables needed?
Is the scale of infrastructure required achievable?
What are the realistic timelines to get the infrastructure required in place and operational?

Moderator:

Jacqui Bridge
Executive General Manager, Energy Futures
Powerlink Queensland

Panellists:

Scott Ryan
Chief Asset and Operating Officer
Endeavour Energy

Sam Barbaro
Chief Executive Officer
Western Power

David Fyfe
Chief Executive Officer
Synergy

Igor Sadimenko
Oceania Partner, Power & Utilities Leader
EY

Andrew Mears
Chief Executive Officer
SwitchDin

10:30

Morning tea in the expo hall

Re-imagining the grid of tomorrow

11:10

Managing the vehicle to grid interaction as a possible solution to firming load

Understanding the impact the National Electric Vehicle Charging Network will have on adoption and acceptance of EVs
Smart charging is one of the key, long-term solutions to mitigate the unwanted side effects caused by EV-charging demand
Accounting for the impact of V2G (Vehicle-to-grid) and V2X (Vehicle-to-anything) allowing consumers to sell excess electricity back to the grid
Co-ordinating policy to ensure the power system delivers for customers when the EV tsunami hits

Shaun Reardon
Executive General Manager of Networks
Jemena

11:40

There is no transition without transmission

Accelerating the delivery of priority transmission projects to connect renewables
Ensuring energy reliability can be maintained as the system transitions away from thermal generation

Craig Stallan
Executive General Manager, Delivery
Transgrid

12:00

Firming the load – keeping the grid functional and affordable

Identifying and overcoming the issues arising from legacy systems designed for a different era
Coping with peaking renewables
Peak demand and system load – the minimum amount need to keep energy flowing
Maximising the value of extensive grid monitoring data bases

Peter Price
Executive General Manager Engineering
Energy Queensland

12:30

Lunch in the expo hall

13:30

PANEL DISCUSSION: Cybersecurity and protections around infrastructure

Understanding the motivations of hackers – causing chaos, gaining notoriety or financial ransoms?
Securitisation and protection of generational assets
Spending money on the most vulnerable areas
Assigning appropriate value to system security and the provision of reliable services

Moderator:

Kevin Lin
General Manager, Information and Communications Technology
Stanwell

Panellists:

Nathan Morelli
Head of Cyber Security and IT Resilience
SA Power Networks

Matthew Cheney
Chief Technology Officer
Western Power

Sarah McCullough
Chief Information Officer
Essential Energy

Responding to the need for flexibility and resilience without over investment

14:10

Building in resilience without gold-plating – a grid that can survive /recover from natural disasters

Overview of VicGrid’s policy reform agenda to change the way we plan and develop transmission infrastructure in Victoria
Summary of a new best practice approach to planning that prepares Victoria for a range of possible future scenarios in a way that minimises the risk for Victoria of both under-investment (not being prepared) and over-investment (building more than is necessary)
New arrangements to strengthen community engagement and foster investment

Alistair Parker
Chief Executive Officer
VicGrid

14:40

Afternoon tea in the expo hall

15:10

PANEL DISCUSSION: What does an exceptionally well-managed grid look like?

How can the current lack of transmission to carry renewable energy from regional areas to population/industrial centres be resolved?
What kind of improvement in efficiency can AI/digitalisation offer?
Which policies or reforms are needed to increase the smooth running of the grid?

Moderator:

Carly Irving-Dolan
Chief Executive - Energy
NRMA

Panellists:

Alistair Parker
Chief Executive Officer
VicGrid

Bobby Vidakovic
Director - Head of Grid
Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC)

Jacqui Bridge
Executive General Manager, Energy Futures
Powerlink Queensland

Craig Stallan
Executive General Manager, Delivery
Transgrid

Ravi Mandalika
Executive, Partner - Energy, Sustainability & Utilities Industry Leader, ANZ
IBM

Matthew Gleeson
Vice President Global Alliances & Channels
Oracle Energy and Water

Creating the social license necessary to build transmission lines

16:00

Gaining community and stakeholder acceptance (social licence) to develop and operate transmission projects

Engaging with diverse communities and bringing them along on new transmission line projects
Creating a framework for respectful and transparent relationships between transmission companies and landowners
Negotiating meaningful compensation to affected communities
Delivering information on why projects are needed and how they contribute to cheaper and more reliable energy

Marie Jordan
Executive General Manager, Network Planning
Transgrid