In this episode of AEMO On Air, we spotlight two emerging leaders helping shape Australia’s energy future.
 
Join us as we sit down with Merry Hoang and Jaleel Mesbah, recipients of the Zema Energy Studies Scholarship – a world-class PhD program in partnership with Monash University.
 
This scholarship was created to honour AEMO’s founding CEO, Matt Zema, and is dedicated to supporting the next generation of energy leaders as they tackle the complex challenges facing Australia's energy sector.
 
Tune in to hear about how Merry and Jaleel’s PhD studies are driving innovation, advancing research, and building a more sustainable energy future.
 
Learn more about the Zema Energy Studies Scholarship: www.aemo.com.au/about/zema-energy-studies-scholarship
Information about applications to the Zema Energy Studies Scholarship: www.monash.edu/energy-institute/students/scholarships/zema-energy-studies-scholarship
Interviewer: Catie Low

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AEMO's Onboarding and Connections team plays a vital role in Australia's energy transition, connecting new generation and storage into our grid.

In this latest episode of AEMO On Air, we talk to Group Manager Onboarding and Connections, Margarida Pimentel about her team, the Connections Scorecard report and the importance of working closely with industry to bring new energy projects to life.

The latest Connections Scorecard shows that ~50 GW of new projects – equivalent to 70% of today's generation capacity in the NEM – are working through the connection process: bit.ly/3CGzEQ7

Interviewer: Catie Low

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Last year, AEMO released its first Transition Plan for System Security, mapping out how we will contribute to maintaining power system security as the National Electricity Market (NEM) and WA’s Wholesale Electricity Market (WEM) move toward a world without coal fired power stations.

In this episode of AEMO On Air, we chat with Chris Mock, Manager of Engineering Strategy – System Design, about the role of the plan and its outlined considerations for maintaining system security across three-time horizons – ensuring the transition is smooth, secure, and sustainable for all Australians.

Read the Transition Plan for System Security here: https://bit.ly/4kak4Nj
View the Transition Plan for System Security Infographic here: https://bit.ly/4bhTUo4
Media release: https://bit.ly/41q1KbM

Interviewer: Catie Low

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In the last quarter of 2024 the National Electricity Market hit new demand records, while the contribution of coal fired generation dipped below 50% for the first time. 

In this episode we dive into the insights from the Q4 Quarterly Energy Dynamics (QED) report with AEMO’s Manager of Market Insights, Kerry Galloway.

Kerry breaks down the key takeaways from the report, including the surge in renewable energy contributions, highlighting the transformation of Australia’s energy system.  She discusses how east coast wholesale gas prices rose to $13.60/GJ, driven by record Queensland LNG exports and increased gas-fired electricity generation. While increased battery storage in Western Australia helped the state hit a new quarterly average renewable contribution record of 46% and a renewable peak of 85%.

Interviewer: Paul Zennaro
Read the QED here: https://bit.ly/3NJp2Sk

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In our first AEMO On Air podcast for 2025, we dive into the AEMO Graduate Development Program — a game-changer for anyone looking to kickstart their career in the energy sector. 

We chat with Maddison Demmler, AEMO Graduate Program Manager about the importance of graduate programs in today’s world and the role graduates can play in Australia's energy transition.

Plus, we hear from Zahra and Sasindu as they share their hands-on experiences and insights into life as a graduate.

To find out more about AEMO’s Graduate Development Program, or to apply, click here: https://bit.ly/40A1RQp 

Interviewer: Paul Zennaro

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As WA transitions to net zero, natural gas continues to play a critical role in providing energy to homes and businesses.

In this week’s episode of AEMO On Air, we chat with AEMO’s Nicola Falcon, Interim Executive General Manager of WA, about the latest WA Gas Statement of Opportunities (GSOO) which reveals a strengthened near-term outlook compared to last year’s GSOO, with WA’s domestic gas supply expected to exceed consumption through to 2027.

Read the WA GSOO here: https://bit.ly/4fr2HnQ
View the WA GSOO overview here: https://bit.ly/402NeGp 
Media release: https://bit.ly/3OYHB5J
Interviewer: Paul Zennaro

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Did you know there are more rooftop solar systems in Australia, than there are swimming pools in backyards?

Aussies have embraced rooftop solar like nowhere else on the planet, making households the largest generators of energy on the grid, but we have a long way to go to reach our enormous potential and so much to gain by doing so. 

In this episode we chat to Violette Mouchaileh, AEMO's Executive General Manager of Reform Deliver, about how rooftop solar is assisting with Australia’s energy transition.

Interviewer: Paul Zennaro

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In this episode we dive into the insights from the Q3 Quarterly Energy Dynamics (QED) report with AEMO’s Manager of Market Insights, Kerry Galloway.

Kerry breaks down the key takeaways from the report, including the impact of weather on energy supply and demand, why the cooler July and warmer August/September caused fluctuations in wholesale energy prices, and a big win – at the end of Q3 2024, 45.6 gigawatts (GW) of new capacity were progressing through the connection process from application to commissioning.

Interviewer: Paul Zennaro
Read the QED here: https://bit.ly/3NJp2Sk

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AEMO CEO Daniel Westerman spoke at the Australian Financial Review’s 2024 Energy and Climate Summit.

In this special episode of AEMO On Air, we take a listen to Daniel’s speech, where he gives us a glimpse into what operating the energy system of the future could look like.

In the speech Daniel discusses the challenges of operating Australia's electricity grids in the not-too-distant future, when they no longer have coal in the energy mix.  He addresses peak renewable contributions, including the National Electricity Market's record peak of 74% that was set this Spring. And he talks about the challenges that come with keeping our grids secure and stable, during periods when rooftop solar's contribution is high, and there is very low demand for power from the transmission network.

To read Daniel’s full speech, visit: https://bit.ly/3BPaYE1

Host: Paul Zennaro

Audio thanks to the Australian Financial Review.

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AEMO’s 2024 Electricity Statement of Opportunities (ESOO) report provides a 10-year outlook of investment requirements to maintain reliability for Australia’s National Electricity Market (NEM).

In this episode, we hear from Andrew Turley, GM – Forecasting, System Design, on the importance of this outlook and why it is critical that expected investments in generation, storage and transmission are delivered on time and in full.

Access the full ESOO report here: https://bit.ly/473fs5u

Interviewer: Paul Zennaro

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In early July, to coincide with NAIDOC Week, AEMO launched our first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), marking a significant step forward in our commitment to reconciliation, diversity, and inclusion.

In this episode, Paul chats with AEMO’s Kate Pollock, Senior Consultant – Organisational Development and Jodana Anglesey, Stakeholder Relations & Communications Lead at AEMO Services, about the importance of our RAP in Australia’s energy transition and how this document will help AEMO partner with First Nations communities as we move to a net-zero Australia.

To view our RAP document and images of Lani Balzan’s artwork, visit: www.aemo.com.au/about/reconciliation-action-plan

Interviewer: Paul Zennaro

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In this week’s episode of AEMO On Air, we break down our recently released Quarterly Energy Dynamics (QED) report with AEMO’s Manager of Market Insights, Kerry Galloway.

Tune in as we discuss how the June quarter's low wind speeds and reduced rainfall in south-eastern Australia saw decreases in electricity supplied from wind and hydro, why flexible gas-powered generation is the ultimate backstop for periods of reduced renewable generation and how Western Australia set a new 2nd quarter record for renewables in the grid.

Interviewer: Paul Zennaro

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Recently AEMO released our 2024 Integrated System Plan (ISP), a 25-year road map to transition the National Electricity Market (NEM) to net zero.

Hear from Daniel Westerman, AEMO Chief Executive Officer, in today's episode of AEMO On Air, as he breaks down the ISP and confirms that Australia’s energy transition is well underway, with renewable energy accounting for 40% of electricity used in the past year

Interviewer: Paul Zennaro

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Renewable generation now makes up half of WA's energy supply.

Hear from Kate Ryan, Executive General Manager - Western Australia & Strategy, as she unpacks the recent release of the WEM Electricity Statement of Opportunities (ESOO).

Interviewer: Catie Low

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This time on AEMO On Air we talk to Robbie Flood, AEMO's Gas Reform Manager. 

Robbie explains the role gas currently plays in the energy mix, and how its use will evolve over time, and help enable Australia's energy transition.

Interviewer: Paul Zennaro

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In this week’s AEMO On Air podcast, we hear from Ben Jones, Reliability Forecasting Manager at AEMO.

Ben explains all the complexities and helps clarify some of the information reported in the media about our recently published update to the 2023 Electricity Statement of Opportunities (ESOO) report.

Interviewer: Catie Low

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AEMO has released 2024's first quarterly assessment of market dynamics for both gas and electricity.  In this episode AEMO's GM responsible for market insights, Kevin Ly, joins the podcast for a deep dive on trends in energy production, consumption and costs.

Interviewer: Paul Zennaro

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AEMO's Claire Cass - GM for network projects - explains why Australia needs to build new transmission to connect  renewable energy to the grid, and our meet net-zero targets.

Please note that at 11.46, Claire says 100 kms when she meant to say 100 meters to describe the width of the route for VNI West.

Interviewer: Paul Zennaro

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Get the insights from AEMO's latest east coast gas report, the Gas Statement of Opportunities (GSOO), from Executive General Manager of System Design, Merryn York.

Interviewer: Paul Zennaro

Read the GSOO here.

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