Solar Insiders – a Renew Economy Podcast
- Episodes
- 200
- Released
- every two weeks
- Latest episode
- Nov 12, 2026
About the podcast
Join Renew Economy editor Sophie Vorrath and senior reporter Rachel Williamson as they discuss the ins & outs of the solar industry and what it means for consumers.
Episodes 200
Farmers hope to milk solar with cow-proof tech
Cows under solar is just one of the innovations that is coming back to farming, but agri-renewables luminary Karin Stark says it needs to be tested to give industry -- and farmers -- confidence.
The utility, the almond farm, and the landmark renewable microgrid
We talk to the developers of one of Australia's biggest, privately-owned non-mining microgrids, that will power a massive almond farm and slash diesel use by 90 pct. Plus news of the week.
Is ultra-cheap PV still within reach?
Arena's head of solar, Dan Sturrock, on the agency's progress towards the 30-30-30 target as it launches a third round of Sunshot funding. Plus news of the week.
Outgunned, but not outclassed
The renewable energy industry might be outgunned on Facebook, but community groups are fighting bot farms and outrage-bait with trust and mateship.
Inside the fight to stop prepaid disconnections
Original Power is leading a push to protect people using prepaid meters from being disconnected when temperatures rise above 40ºC.
Will the home battery boom have a bust?
Nelson Zheng from Pylon on why the battery rebate has been kinder to some businesses than others – and how some won't survive this ride on the "solar coaster." Plus, news of the week.
Why recycling used PV panels is not always the best option
Michelle McCann from PV Lab explains why we need to get used modules off Facebook and onto a real market for second-life solar.
Bowen's big bet on the "missing middle"
Rob Potter from the Smart Energy Council joins to discuss federal Labor's announcement that it will extend the SRES to rooftop PV projects up to 1 MW and fill the "missing middle" of the solar market.
Panel recycling at the precipice
James Petesic from PV Industries on the struggle to stay afloat with the federal PV recycling pilot paused and panel smugglers chipping away at feedstocks. Plus, news of the week.
Why new rules for networks signal a new dawn for consumers
AEMC commissioner Rainer Korte on what the new rules on reporting and data sharing will mean to the consumer energy revolution. Plus: news of the week.
Virtual networks and the real pursuit of energy democracy
Deakin University's Andrea La Nauze on the early findings from an Australia-first trial of technology that lets households and businesses trade rooftop solar via a digital platform.
The public power company plugging the gaps
State Electricity Commission CEO Chris Miller on how the government-owned energy company is filling gaps up and down the renewables transition, from home electrification to deep storage.
Renters and the "right to plug in"
Rewiring Australia CEO Francis Vierboom on what governments can do to help renters cut their energy bills, like giving them access to portable solar and battery options. Plus news of the week.
The small company taking giant steps to close the energy gap
Lauren Mellor and Chantelle Johns from Original Power on their mission to take the power back for First Nations communities in the Northern Territory.
Can we make climate action great again?
Thom Woodroofe on his new book, Power, Prosperity & Planet, and why making solar as common to households as smoke alarms is one of the keys to climate policy success.
Community batteries – can networks deliver what it says on the tin?
Rob Amphlett Lewis on Ausgrid's Energy Storage as a Service offer, the falling cost of network batteries and the consumer driven evolution of modern poles and wires companies.
How storage and knowledge can make energy "pretty much free"
Matthew van der Linden from Flow Power shares his conviction that people have the power – and the tech – to take control of their energy costs. Plus news of the week.
How saving energy can save businesses a fortune
Jonathan Pooch from DETA Consulting on the untapped riches of energy productivity. Plus news of the week.
How bushfires sparked a neighbourhood battery blueprint
Ben McGowan, managing director of community-owned retailer Indigo Power, on the key role mid-scale batteries can play in regional energy resilience. Plus news of the week.
What's the right way to consult with communities?
Camilla Hamilton from Cogency explains the importance of research, listening, and good coffee when consulting with communities on renewables. Plus news of the week.
How fixing network tariffs could break home battery economics
IEEFA's Jay Gordon on how proposed changes to electricity pricing could strip away the benefits of Cheaper Home Batteries. Plus, news of the week.
Zen and the art of battery optimisation
OptiGrid founder and CEO Sahand Karimi on the ever evolving art of battery optimisation and the huge untapped value of the sub-5 MW "community" storage market. Plus news of the week.
Praise be, it's a pilot!
SEC's Darren Johannesen discusses two major bits of progress on the decade-long road to address Australia's solar waste problem. Plus news of the week.
Energy smarts for home batteries and EVs
Kaluza CEO Melissa Gander on the change in technologies, and energy thinking, that will deliver more value to consumers. Plus: News of the week, including solar recycling plan and home battery uptake.
Big trouble in the small-scale battery rebate
Smart Energy Council's David McElrea on why federal Labor must make some urgent changes to its super successful Cheaper Home Batteries scheme – and what those changes might be. Plus news of the week.
Riding the home battery wave
GoodWe's Dean Williamson gives an insider's view of the home battery boom, talks new products, and sends brand growth through to the keeper. Plus news of the week.
Silicon, silver and sliding doors
Neeraj Das from ElecSome on the huge economic and resource opportunity solar recycling presents for Australia – and how close we are to stuffing it up. Plus news of the week.
Would you like electrification with that?
Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel on how Australia must take a smorgasbord approach to home energy to make the most of Labor's free solar plan. Plus, news of the week.
The community that built its own renewable grid
Kait Williamson from Flow Power on how one Victorian town built its own green power solution from the ground up.
What consumers really want from virtual power plants
Plico Energy CTO George Martin says business is booming under the new home battery rebates, but the name of the VPP game remains the same. Plus news of the week.
These are the latest 40 of 200 episodes. You’ll find older episodes in the podcast’s feed.
Similar podcasts
More Technology podcasts
Is this your podcast?
Confirm it with an entry in your feed: you get a code here, add it as podcast:txt to the channel of your feed, and we check it. Your podcast is then shown as “verified” on SoundNode.