Join hosts Dr. Greg Trainor and Neil Belford as they chat with Andy McCarthy, founder and former CEO of Gippsland Solar, for an inspiring conversation about building Australia's renewable energy future from the heart of coal country. Andy shares his remarkable journey from a troubled teen with ADHD to becoming a solar industry pioneer, establishing his company in the Latrobe Valley surrounded by coal-fired power stations and eventually selling to RACV Solar.

(02:00) Early life struggles and discovering solar through battery work
(05:00) Moving to Latrobe Valley and starting Gippsland Solar
(07:00) Typical customers and hiding solar panels from neighbours
(09:00) Hazelwood closure and community attitude changes
(11:00) Building bridges and changing approaches to coal communities
(14:00) Industry challenges: race to the bottom vs long-term value
(17:00) Battery rebates and sustainable industry development
(20:00) Community energy models and behind-the-meter solutions
(22:00) Commercial solar uptake and hospital case study
(25:00) Electric vehicle adoption and early charging infrastructure
(29:00) Australia's world-leading solar success factors
(32:00) Manufacturing opportunities lost and energy security
(35:00) RACV acquisition and Gen-tailer business models
(37:00) Advice for renewable energy entrepreneurs
(39:00) Customer engagement and listening to needs
(41:00) Next chapter: CEP Energy and embedded networks

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 Kevin Hart, CEO of the New Zealand Wind Energy Association, to explore the evolving landscape of wind power in Aotearoa. Kevin shares his remarkable journey from international judo competitor to renewable energy leader, before diving into the challenges and opportunities facing the sector—from global supply chain constraints and complex regulation to the huge potential of offshore wind. The conversation unpacks the critical role of firming, energy storage, and community involvement in building a secure, reliable future for New Zealand’s energy grid. It's a timely discussion for anyone interested in the transition to clean energy, leadership in action, and what it really takes to scale renewables.

(01:35) Kevin Hart’s journey from international judo to energy leadership

(03:46) Inside the New Zealand Wind Energy Association

(06:33) Wind energy today: challenges, capacity goals, and grid impact

(15:31) Global supply chain pressures and regulatory complexity

(17:46) What’s next: the future of wind energy in New Zealand

(20:48) Community buy-in and the promise of offshore wind

(34:12) The firming gap: batteries, storage and the role of tech

(38:20) Kevin’s outlook: optimism and opportunity on the horizon

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

In this episode of the Wired for Energy podcast, hosts Dr. Greg Trainor and Neil Belford sit down with Bruce Thompson, Managing Director of Thompillai. They chat about how renewable energy is being rolled out across Australia, the tricky bits of our energy systems, and Bruce’s early work with community energy projects. From the ups and downs of renewables to the future of smart grids, Bruce shares stories from his long career and gives us a look at where energy policy might be headed.

(01:47) Bruce Thompson's Early Career and Interests

(02:31) The Evolution of Renewable Energy

(05:28) Community Energy Initiatives

(15:04) Green Sync and Virtual Power Plants

(20:46) Current Energy Challenges and Solutions

(22:45) Scaling Up Solar Systems

(23:07) Challenges in Standardising Smart Technology

(23:39) Telecommunications vs. Energy Rollout

(24:16) Diverse Equipment and Installation Complexities

(24:55) Current Orchestration and Future Potential

(26:11) Implementing Common Smart Inverter Protocol

(29:03) Dynamic Operating Envelopes and Market Formation

(33:18) Policy Coordination and Technical Work Streams

(40:23) Future-Proofing Solar and Embracing Electrification

(42:21) Concluding Thoughts and Future Prospects

About Bruce

Bruce has spent over 20 years in scaling small scale renewable energy technologies working at the intersection of technology, commercial, social, policy to build practical and scalable responses to climate change.

Bruce spent 12 years with the Moreland Energy Foundation Ltd, establishing and leading initiatives including the EcoSmart Electricians training program, Moreland Solar City, ZeroNet Energy Town and the Positive Charge social enterprise to engage community, industry and government in effective and efficient models to transform our energy sector.

He was awarded the Brian Robinson Foundation Fellowship in 2007 for young environmental leadership and travelled to Europe to research community based decentralised energy and low-income energy efficiency programs

Bruce joined GreenSync in 2016 to support the company's strategic development with executive responsibility for commercial, operations, partnerships and industry engagement. He was instrumental in establishing the deX technology to enable customer energy resources (CER) to better connect to the grid, providing value and avoiding risks. Bruce stepped down as the CEO in 2023 following the successful transition of the company to its new ownership structure.

Bruce currently provides strategic advisory service to clients across government, corporate and the not-for-profit sector. He was invited to join ARENA’s Advisory Panel in 2023 and was appointed to the Federal Government’s Consumer Energy Taskforce in early 2024. Bruce also contributes to a number of NGOs and is currently a Board Director for Environment Victoria.

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