Powering Australia

2024 has been a massive year for the Powering Australia team! 🟠 We undertook a national recruitment drive, received a record response, appointed nine additional people, taking our talented team to 12. 🟠 We established 5 offices in WA, SA, QLD, VIC and NSW giving us truly national representation. 🟠 Connected with over 400 clean-tech businesses across the country and are building one of the country's most comprehensive clean-tech industry databases with over 4000 companies and counting. 🟠 We signed a MOU with the UKBIC to give Australian companies access to their amazing facilities for the first time. 🟠 We celebrated the passing of the $22b #FutureMadeinAustralia Act to drive targeted investment at scale. 🟠 We welcomed the Prime Minister of Tuvalu Feleti Teo to Perth to share Australian learnings about the energy transition. 🟠 Cheered as the $70m #FirstNationsCleanEnergyStrategy was released. Kicked off national consultation to develop our sector competitiveness plans. 🟠 Welcomed battery innovation program delegates and representatives from the UK Research and Innovation to our shores. 🟠 We worked to shape a positive business environment contributing to 8 consultations, media engagements and conference presentations. 🟠 Engaged with Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and welcomed industry visitors and government representatives from Japan, UK, Taiwan, India, Indonesia and more. 🟠 Supported the 10-year inaugural Government of Western Australia's Science and Technology Plan. 🟠 Attended over 70 industry focused events across the country. 🟠 Celebrated the appointment of our CEO Shannon O'Rourke to the industry advisory board of the newly formed Clean Energy Skills National Centre of Excellence. We look forward to an even bigger 2025! Ed Husic MP Madeleine King Tim Shanahan Roger Cook Reece Whitby David Michael Graeme Hunt Bruce Godfrey Sarah Ryan Mark Woffenden #poweringaustralia #cleantechmanufacturing #batterytechnology #criticalminerals #greenenergy

Shona Swart from Powering Australia’s SA/NT team recently met with Briony O'Shea from GPA Engineering, who have played a key role in multiple hydrogen developments in Australia. With a specific focus on industrial decarbonisation, our SA/NT team were particularly interested to hear from Briony about GPA’s role in the 1.25 MW HyP SA electrolyser they recently toured, the 10 MW Hydrogen Park Murray Valley under construction in Victoria, as well as the Direct MCH Demonstration Plant, which turns hydrogen into Methylcyclohexane to enable export, in Queensland. These projects highlight the growth in production and export capacity of hydrogen in Australia and help to derisk development of broader technologies and applications. Understanding the potential role that hydrogen can play in decarbonising heavy industry, we look forward to continuing our conversations with Briony and her team in 2025. #PoweringAustralia #Hydrogen #RenewableEnergy #CleanTech #Sustainability #AustralianInnovation

Powering Australia is delighted to advise that our CEO Shannon O'Rourke has been appointed to the Industry Advisory Board of the newly formed Clean Energy Skills National Centre of Excellence (CESNCE). Shannon joins representatives drawn from First Nations, industry, unions, government TAFE and University sectors to offer advice to Government about the clean energy workforce. The CESNCE is jointly funded by the State and Federal Governments for $70 million over a period of five years and is tasked with building the capability of TAFE and other training institutions to build the workforce that will be needed as part of the clean energy transition. Shannon’s appointment aligns with Powering Australia’s specific focus on building workforce capability across our remit of clean-tech manufacturing for batteries, solar, wind, transport, transmission and distribution and industrial decarbonisation. He expressed his thanks to the Hon Simone McGurk and the Roger Cook Government, and through this latest appointment together with his role on the WA State Training Board, he looks forward to bringing extensive industry insights to this critical task. You can find out more and read the Minister’s statement in full here: https://lnkd.in/gy-MVKnV Reece Whitby Rebecca Tomkinson Ty Theodore Jodie Wallace Greg Warren Michael Wright Jai Thomas Jasmine Kadic (nee Harp) Terry Hill AM Dr Mara West Matthew Cheney Andrew Giles #poweringaustralia #cleanenergy #futureworkforce #batteryskills #cleantechmanufacturing

Building out the nation's clean tech and battery manufacturing skills base is vital to support our clean energy transition ambitions. That's why Powering Australia's Rod Thiele was pleased to catch up with Battery Research and Innovation Hub Manager Timothy Khoo in Melbourne this week. The Hub, based at Deakin University's Burwood Campus, is a key facility for training Australian company personnel about battery manufacturing processes. Powering Australia and the Hub are developing plans to strengthen the collaboration between the two organisations during 2025, with both organisations looking to ramp up their battery skills and training activities. #poweringaustralia #batteryskills #batterytechnology #energystorage #cleantechmanufacturing

Powering Australia's South Australian team visited the exciting Tonsley Innovation District for a tour of Hydrogen Park South Australia (HyP SA). They were joined by Powering Skills Organisation’s Peter Adams Anthea Middleton and John G Kelly AM.   HyP SA uses a 1.25 MW Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyser to produce hydrogen from water and electricity from the grid when renewable energy is abundant. Drawing on the lessons learned from this initial demonstration, Australian Gas Infrastructure Group (AGIG) have commenced construction on a 10 MW electrolyser at HyP Murray Valley in NSW, with a 60 MW electrolyser planned for HyP Adelaide to come.   As an emerging industry, this leadership demonstrates what is possible and enables offtake by hard-to-abate sectors looking to decarbonise. Critically, it also allows development of the skills required for our future hydrogen workforce. Fortunately, TAFE SA’s Tonsley campus is already geared up to deliver hydrogen fundamentals micro credentials courses. #poweringaustralia #cleanenergy #skillsandtraining #energytransition

We celebrate the release of the First Nations Clean Energy Strategy 2024 - 2030 by Minister Chris Bowen and Senator Malarndirri McCarthy after extensive engagement with First Nations, industry, academic and government stakeholders.  https://lnkd.in/gGJKBxV4 The strategy outlines a national framework for First Nations participation in the energy transition with Country and culture as foundational principles. As a key priority under the National Energy Transformation Partnership, it is framed around 3 goals: ·        Power First Nations communities with clean energy ·        Enable equitable partnerships ·        Achieve economic benefits with First Nations peoples It is intended to guide investment, influence policy, and support First Nations people to self-determine how they participate in, and benefit from, Australia’s clean energy transition. Powering Australia's First Nations Node Leader Sam Kirby congratulated those who led the strategy's development particularly the First Nations Clean Energy and Climate Change Advisory Committee and the First Nations Clean Energy Network. “The strategy provides a strong foundation for First Nations to play a leading role in the clean energy transition. We look forward to the positive action that will follow this important milestone and will continue to focus on achieving better business outcomes for First Nations in the clean energy transition”. #energytransition #firstnations #cleanenergy #poweringaustralia

Powering Australia’s First Nations Node Leader Sam Kirby recently had the pleasure of attending the First Nations and The Clean Energy Transition Forum held in Perth on Whadjuk Noongar Boodja. The event brought together First Nations leaders and allies with speakers representing Neoen Yindjibarndi Energy Corporation Indigenous Energy Australia and Windlab and more, to discuss the challenges and opportunities posed by the clean energy transition. Themes across the day included how renewable clean energy projects can and should positively benefit culture, the importance of balancing energy efficiency, energy use and clean energy generation, respectful cultural approaches to Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC), as well as financing options for renewable energy projects and equity arrangements. The event showcased First Nations clean energy leadership and we give a shout out to the many guest speakers and conference Chairs Clare Pope, Emma Garlett and Raquel Todd. Brigette McDowell Tommy Hicks Julie-ann Lambourne Bianca Graham GAICD Frank van Rooyen Noel Prakash Christopher Marchesi Tamara Brooker Jop van Hattum Martin (Kusi) Bin Rashid James Stephens #poweringaustralia #firstnationsleadership #energytransition

Two weeks into their new roles and Casey Kwak and Miriam Cuellar from Powering Australia's NSW node, have just attended their first networking event - a CommBank Business and Institutional and First Nations X Thought Leadership Breakfast in Sydney last week. The event brought together speakers from US, Mexico, and Canada - including Eric Henson Dawn Houle Eli Velasquez, and Nicole Johnny, MBA who shared their expertise on fostering entrepreneurship, celebrating culture, and building collaborations that empower Indigenous communities globally. It was interesting to learn that Native American tribes in the US prioritise broadening their economies to establish scale, before focusing on deepening economic complexity in what was described as a 'community centred' model. Other key success strategies included building international cultural connections and ensuring Indigenous businesses were innovation and investment ready. With a welcoming international market, significant investment opportunities available and a network of local and global experts to tap into, it is hoped these real-world success stories can inspire local First Nations businesses to take the leap. Special thanks to Simone Kenmore for the invite, we look forward to creating opportunities and improving business outcomes for First Nations as part of Australia’s clean-tech manufacturing future. #PoweringAustralia #IndigenousLeadership #FirstNationsBusiness #EconomicEmpowerment #CleanTechLeadership

Braving Melbourne’s temperamental weather, Powering Australia had the opportunity to catch the Windrose Technology battery electric truck at the Mondo Energy depot in Spotswood charging up for its final run in Australia before heading across the Tasman for a run in New Zealand. L.Arthur https://lnkd.in/guU_c7rG has been supporting operational demonstrations along Australia’s east coast towing multiple trailer combinations to demonstrate the versatility and capability of the Windrose prime mover.   The Windrose truck has definitely turned heads in Australia and is laying the foundation in the clean tech space demonstrating that there are solutions available that can support the “heavy” end of Australia’s road-based supply chains. #poweringaustralia #energytransition #batteryelectrictruck

The team at Jobs and Skills Australia are criss-crossing the country on a national roadshow to promote the findings of their latest “Better Together - Jobs and Skills Report 2024”. https://lnkd.in/gBW2uCnG Central themes to the 2024 edition of the report address the importance of equity, access and inclusion across education, training and employment. Australia is currently experiencing skills shortages across multiple industries whilst unemployment is at a relatively low level. In this context, the work of JSA is more important than ever in providing policy makers with data driven analysis to guide decision making. During this morning’s Perth visit Powering Australia’s Shannon O'Rourke joined Dr Ross Kelly and Jodie Wallace on a panel facilitated by Trevor Gauld. The clean energy transition is already upon us. The work of Jobs and Skills Australia is essential to ensure our education and training sectors are equipped to deliver the workforce of the future and that communities across the country can share in the benefits. #poweringaustralia #jobsandskills #energytransition #futureworkforce