First Fuel

In Episode 24 of First Fuel, we bring you a panel discussion from the joint opening plenary of All-Energy Australia and Energy Efficiency Expo hosted by Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel on the eve of the 2020 Federal Budget. Luke is joined by Anna Skarbek from ClimateWorks Australia, Amanda McKenzie from the Climate Council, Eytan Lenko from Beyond Zero Emissions, Ian Learmonth from the C...

In Episode 23 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is joined by Tony Wood, one of Australia’s leading energy commentators and Director of the Grattan Institute’s Energy Program.  Luke and Tony discuss the Australian Government’s First Low Emissions Technology Statement, ARENA's expanded remit and the $1.6 billion of funding that has been allocated to deliver it, and the prospec...

In Episode 22 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is joined by Steven Nadel, Executive Director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). Luke and Steve discuss US Government’s approach to energy efficiency under different Presidents, action on energy efficiency at the state and federal level under President Trump, and the Biden campaign’s plan to put en...

In Episode 21 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is joined by Edith Bayer, an energy policy analyst specialising in energy efficiency at the International Energy Agency. Luke and Edith discuss her recent article on utility-funded energy efficiency programs,  their role in economic recovery post COVID-19, and how they are evolving to enable dynamic, 21st century electrici...

In Episode 20 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is joined by Meg McDonald, who’s been local and global leader on the response to climate change and the energy transition for over two decades. Luke and Meg discuss her background working on climate issues overseas, the climate and energy institutions she has helped establish in Australia over the last decade, and her role on t...

In Episode 19 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is joined by Tennant Reed, Head of Climate, Energy and Environment Policy at Australian Industry Group, to discuss their recent paper on post pandemic energy and climate policy. Luke and Tennant discuss the impact of COVID-19 on gas prices, electricity prices and emissions, the reasons these changes are unlikely to endure, and...

In Episode 18 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is joined by two guests: Paul Ruyssevelt, Professor of Energy and Building Performance at University College London’s Energy Institute, and Carlos Flores, Director of the National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS). Luke, Paul and Carlos chat about the role of the International Energy Agency’s Energy in Buildin...

In Episode 17 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is joined by Donna Luckman to chat about her current role at the Coalition for Community Energy, her time leading the sustainable housing advocacy organisation Renew, and the crucial regulatory reforms that are needed to ensure all Australians live in healthy, comfortable and affordable homes. Mentioned in this episode: Coaliti...

In Episode 16 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is joined by Ian Learmonth, CEO of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC). They discuss Australia's changing energy mix and the implications for energy management, the CEFC’s recently released Investment Update, and how Ian expects the CEFC’s role to evolve in the midst of COVID-19. Mentioned in this episode: CEFC 2019-20...

In Episode 15 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is joined by Satish Kumar, President and Executive Director of the Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE), one of India’s leading energy policy think tanks. Luke and Satish discuss India’s energy efficiency policy architecture, its success in the rollout of LEDs, its challenges on space cooling, and the importance of b...

In Episode 14 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is joined by Associate Professor Cheryl Desha, Director, Engagement (Industry) in the School of Engineering & Built Environment at Griffith University. Luke and Cheryl discuss some of her key contributions to the national and global conversation around energy efficiency, and the continuing effort to build energy management...

In Episode 13 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel talks to Davina Rooney, CEO of the Green Building Council of Australia, about maintaining a positive outlook in the midst of lockdown, the transition from the corporate world to the not-for-profit sector, and how we use this moment to build back better post COVID-19. Mentioned in this episode: 3 Idiots (film) https://www.imdb.c...

In Episode 12 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is joined by Bradley Anderson from the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment and Tennant Reed from Australian Industry Group. They discuss a new report from a group of independent experts focused on ways of rapidly transforming the energy management market that supports Australian industry. Apologies for the audi...

In Episode 11 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel talks to Adrian Joyce, Secretary General of EuroACE and Campaign Director of Renovate Europe, about the growing momentum for making the so-called ‘renovation wave’ a central plank of Europe’s economic recovery post COVID-19. Mentioned in this episode: European Alliance of Companies for Energy Efficiency in Buildings (EuroACE) h...

In Episode 10 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel talks to Michael Liebreich, founder of Bloomberg New Energy Finance, about the crucial role of energy efficiency in the recovery post COVID-19. Recorded on 1 July 2020 as part of the National Summit: Energy Efficiency and Economic Recovery. Mentioned in this episode: National Summit: Energy efficiency and Australia's economic r...

In Episode 9 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel talks to Dr. Phil Blythe, who recently stepped down as Greensync’s Managing Director after founding the company in 2010. Luke and Phil discuss startup addiction, what’s changed in Australia’s energy market in the last decade (and what hasn’t), and the role of profound optimisation in charting a path to net zero. Mentioned in thi...

In Episode 8 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is joined by Craig Memery from the Public Interest Advocacy Centre and the Council’s own Head of Policy Rob Murray-Leach.  Luke, Craig and Rob discuss the final determination on the Wholesale Demand Response Mechanism announced by the Australian Energy Market Commission last week, the history of this rule change, and what i...

In Episode 7 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is joined by Rosemary Sinclair AM, current CEO of .au Domain Administration, and former CEO of Energy Consumers Australia.  Luke and Rosemary talk about her five years at Energy Consumers Australia, its role in moving consumer outcomes to the centre of Australia’s energy conversation, and the importance of building trust &n...

In Episode 6 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel talks to Commissioner Andrew McAllister of the California Energy Commission about the multiple crises facing the US, how to leverage energy efficiency to stimulate the global economy and the importance of ‘active efficiency’ in the energy transition. Mentioned in this episode: California Energy Commission   https://www.ener...

In Episode 5 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel talks to Alan Pears AM, Senior Industry Fellow at RMIT University, about his lifelong passion for the demand side, the Australian Government’s Technology Investment Roadmap, and the reforms of policy, governance, regulation and incentives that would drive a genuine step change in energy efficiency. Mentioned in this episode: The...

In Episode 4 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel talks to Chloe Munro, Professorial Fellow at Monash University and Chair of the Energy Transition Hub’s Strategic Advisory Panel about a very big week in national energy and climate policy.  Mentioned in this episode:  The King Review  Australian Government response to the King Review  Australia's Technology Investment Roadmap:...

In Episode 3 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel talks to Tennant Reed, Head of Climate, Energy and Environment Policy at Australian Industry Group, about how COVID-19 is impacting Australia's manufacturing sector and the opportunities to drive economic recovery alongside a clean energy transition. Mentioned in this episode: Tennant’s article on falling energy prices Ai Group’...

In Episode 2 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel talks to Dr. Brian Motherway, Head of Energy Efficiency at the International Energy Agency, about the role of energy efficiency in the economic stimulus packages being developed by governments in Australia and around the world.  Mentioned in this episode: Global Commission for Urgent Action on Energy Efficiency Energy Efficiency...

In Episode 1 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel talks to Anna Skarbek, CEO of ClimateWorks Australia, about Climateworks' seminal new report, Decarbonisation Futures. Mentioned in this episode: Decarbonisation Futures from Climateworks Australia United In Science from the World Meteorological Organization Renewable Integration Study from the Australian Energy Market Operator...

The Energy Efficiency Council's podcast, First Fuel, brings you the latest perspectives on energy efficiency, energy management and demand response from Australia and around the world. In this brief, introductory episode the Council's CEO, Luke Menzel briefly covers what the podcast is about, and some of the guests that are coming up.