Spark Club Podcast

Spark Club brings leaders and entrepreneurs in the energy field together with a common objective, to build energy businesses. We draw on each others experience to support, learn and grow cleantech energy businesses. The podcasts are hosted by Grant McDowell and are recordings of our Fireside chats and podcasts with leaders in the global energy transformation.

Nuclear to cost Australian economy $4.3T - Tim Buckley - EP51 04/27/2025

Nuclear to cost Australian economy $4.3T - Tim Buckley - EP51 Tim Buckley joins the Spark Club regular podcast in the lead up to the Australian Federal Election on the 3rd May 2025. Highlights China 1QCY2025 electricity statistics. Battery Energy Storage BESS announcements continue at a rapid speed and scale, with proposals advancing across Australia almost daily. China’s response to the US trade war Lowlights Rolled into the Main Story this week. Main Story New Climate Energy Finance report: What’s coming up? The Australian Federal election on the 3rd of May, will Labor win? /episode/index/show/sparkclub/id/36325395

Energy Transformation Live Event - Danny Kennedy - Ep 50 04/06/2025

Energy Transformation Live Event - Danny Kennedy - Ep 50 In our first Live Spark Club event for 2025 Danny Kennedy joins us to share his recent experience on the ground in Pakistan and Bangladesh where he witnessed first hand the Energy Transformation underway with rapid deployment of solar PV. Danny shares the positive effect of China's Five Year Plans and the flywheel effect of low cost solar PV, battery storage and EV's deployed in new markets. We also discuss Australia as a beacon of successfully integrating high renewable energy assets onto our grid and how our leadership should be seen as an opportunity to build strong commercial relationships with our immediate Asian neighbours. And the opportunity for Australian to unlock the value of low cost energy in processing our iron ore, polysilicon etc, to bolster our economy and much needed exports. Danny remains a solar rooftop revolutionary and shares great stories of optimism, and challenges from his time travelling and learning from economies moving from energy transtion to energy transformation. Links to books mentioned in our convesation; More and More and More Stellar Spark Club Live Event - How to Lobby Canberra Enjoy the podcast /episode/index/show/sparkclub/id/36023100

Australian Federal Election 2025 - Tim Buckley - Ep49 04/01/2025

Australian Federal Election 2025 - Tim Buckley - Ep49 Tim Buckley joins the Spark Club regular podcast on the day the Australian Federal Election is announced for 2025. Highlights Federal election has been called this morning - for 3rd May 2025 Budget - not much climate or energy information in the budget, perhaps there's more to be announced during the election. BYD’s amazing stats. Matt Pollard's oped in RenewEconomy. 120,000 R&D staff!!! EV momentum Tim shares overall EV market stats, perhaps a lowlight for Tesla. Caroline’s Wang work on electricity generation stats. Highlighting the first two months of 2025 performance. Lowlights article in the Guardian. Peter Dutton’s new energy plan sounds like a gas. In reality it means more emissions – and more profits for industry Main Story See Climate Energy Finance report. What’s coming up? The Electrification of everything announcement - National Household battery strategy. /episode/index/show/sparkclub/id/35957280

Australia's Strong China Relationship - Dr Zhengrong Shi Ep 48 03/25/2025

Australia's Strong China Relationship - Dr Zhengrong Shi Ep 48 It's great to welcome Dr Zhengrong Shi onto the Spark Club podcast. We had some time before a UNSW Fireside Chat event with Professor Martin Green and Dr Shi. We open our conversation with Dr Shi’s thoughts on entrepreneurship and the six principles of what it takes to build a successful business. We discuss solar manufacturing from its infancy in China and Suntech’s contribution as a cornerstone, ‘root company, of the solar sector. We then explore the distributed solar manufacturing potential for Australia, and other Nations, and how new markets are emerging in Pakistan for example. Dr Shi shares the progress he is making with his new hydrogen venture based in Australia and its potential to leverage the his experience gained in silicon solar cells. We wrap up with the changes in solar policy in China in 2025 and the impact expected to the deployment numbers before and after the June change this year. And lastly Dr Shi shares his views on the future of the energy sector over the next decade. Enjoy the podcast. /episode/index/show/sparkclub/id/35850735

Engie aims to invest €21-24 billion - Tim Buckley - Ep47 03/09/2025

Engie aims to invest €21-24 billion - Tim Buckley - Ep47 This week Tim shares his highlights, lowlights and main story with us starting with; Highlights Green iron report by Deloitte & The Fifth Estate forum with Matt Kean and Martijn Wilder hosted at the Greenhouse. China's massive US$11bn 19GW (85% RE) . Canadian Solar's reported CY2024 BESS shipments surged 505% yoy to 6.5GWh. Engie pulls out of a Texas gas project as the numbers no longer stack up. And EV highlights for BYD, not so much for Tesla Lowlights Gas cartel stitch up. Story by via Drilled Media. Main Story of France reconfirming its NZE by 2045 commitments and aims to invest €21-24 billion in growth capex over the next 3 years Coming up Climate Action Week Sydney - over 200 events in Sydeney and online. End /episode/index/show/sparkclub/id/35590810

Whyalla Steel Works - Tim Buckley - Ep 46 02/23/2025

Whyalla Steel Works - Tim Buckley - Ep 46 This week Tim shares some good news from Canberra with the Climate Capital Forum leading a delegation to meet with politicians across the spectrum and share a positive message. Our focus this week on the South Australian State government working in partnership with the PM Federal Government to put the financially distressed Sanjeev Gupta 's Manufacturing division into administration, and to offer a A$2.4bn rescue and modernisation package to transform Whyalla into a potentially world leading green iron and steel centre. For more information, refer our detailed Linkedin post here: And 's published his key thoughts in here: Enjoy the podcast. /episode/index/show/sparkclub/id/35392315

China Leaps Forward - Tim Buckley - Ep45 02/02/2025

China Leaps Forward - Tim Buckley - Ep45 Welcome to episode 45 of the Spark Club podcast. Tim Buckley is back to take us through our regular format of Highlights, Lowlights, The Main Story and What Coming Up. In this episode we open with good news from the Middle East as large scale solar and battery storage deployment hits new records. Tim shares news on the $2Bn Green Aluminium production tax credits, Labor's 2025 Build Australia's Future plan and big BESS installations numbers across across the world. Amazing. In the Main Story for the week we discuss China's headline energy and economic growth numbers in 2024 and China's carbon emissions stats filtering through from Lauri Myllyvirta at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. To wrap up Tim shares what he's up to in Canberra this coming week. The Spark Club Live events will continue, so stayed tuned for our next one. Enjoy the podcast. /episode/index/show/sparkclub/id/35113715

Solar S-Curve - Birchy - Ep44 01/29/2025

Solar S-Curve - Birchy - Ep44 Welcome to episode 44 of the Spark Club podcast. A large part of our conversation on this podcast is about solar PV as the engine behind the global energy transition. Traditional media still maintains solar as a rounding error, a technology in its infancy. Well the stats tell a different story, which is why I'm delighted to have Andrew Birch 'Birchy', onto the podcast. Birchy shares his start in the solar industry, way back when, and how his career has informed the work he's doing on the S-Curve. Birchy has distilled the noise down to one key idea, and a number of important stats, for our community in the energy transition to know deeply and share with anyone who'll listen. The best way to learn more is on ebirchy.com This YouTube link. And Birchy mentions the Global Solar Council. Enjoy the podcast. /episode/index/show/sparkclub/id/35060640

Accelerating the Energy Transition - Tim Buckley - Ep43 12/31/2024

Accelerating the Energy Transition - Tim Buckley - Ep43 Welcome to episode 43 of the Spark Club podcast, and the 10th in our new Regular Podcast series. Tim Buckley, our regular guest is back for the final episode for 2024. In this episode we discuss the highlights and the lowlights for the week and then go onto discuss the recent Climate Energy Finance report - Australia is seeing an Acceleration in our Electricity Sector Transition, putting our 82% Renewables by 2030 Target in reach. See link to report below; We will also discuss what stood our in energy in 2024 and what 2025 holds for Australia and ambitions for China in the coming year. The Spark Club Live events will continue, so stayed tuned for our next one. Enjoy the podcast. /episode/index/show/sparkclub/id/34666120

Solar PV in Australia - Renate Egan - Ep42 12/26/2024

Solar PV in Australia - Renate Egan - Ep42 Welcome to episode 42 of the Spark Club podcast. This the 9th episode in our Regular Podcast series. This time we welcome Professor Renate Egan, Executive Director at the Australia Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics at UNSW to Spark Club. In this episode we discuss the discuss the opportunity for solar pv manufacturing in Australia and how UNSW remains at the leading edge of global solar innovation. Renate shares updates on early signs of progress and how Australia holds a global advantage for high volume, low cost solar PV manufacturing. We discuss the delicate balance for solar in Australia at this moment of complicated geopolitics, in the battle between molecules and electrons. The Spark Club Live events will continue, so stayed tuned for our next one. Enjoy the podcast. /episode/index/show/sparkclub/id/34616160

The Nuclear Debate - Tim Buckley - Ep41 12/01/2024

The Nuclear Debate - Tim Buckley - Ep41 Welcome to episode 41 of the Spark Club podcast. And the 8th in our new Regular Podcast with Tim Buckley. In this episode we discuss the highlights and the lowlights for the week and then go onto the main story. Tim was invited by Rob Stokes and Matt Kean to a debate on nuclear at Maquarie Uni. Rob, Matt and Tim were able to shift audience opinion. Great record to point to for anyone who has a nuclear supporter in their friends or family during the holiday season. The Spark Club Live events will continue, so stayed tuned for our next one. Enjoy the podcast. /episode/index/show/sparkclub/id/34219430

Green Iron Report - Tim Buckley - Ep40 11/17/2024

Green Iron Report - Tim Buckley - Ep40 This is episode 40 of the Spark Club podcast. And the 7th in our new Regular Podcast with Tim Buckley. In this episode we discuss Tim's Climate Energy Finance (CEF) report co-authored by Matt Pollard, Net Zero Transformation Analyst at CEF and Tim. Letting you know we're opening the conversation to broader voices to compliment Tim. New guests will share their views on the rise and rise of China in the global energy transition, especially over the next four years as the US returns to short term profits from molecules and China unlocks new opportunities for clean electrons in global markets. The Spark Club Live events will continue, so stayed tuned for our next one. Enjoy the podcast. /episode/index/show/sparkclub/id/33957012

Tim Buckley - Regular Podcast - Ep39 11/03/2024

Tim Buckley - Regular Podcast - Ep39 This is episode 39 of the Spark Club podcast. And the 6th in our new Regular Podcast with Tim Buckley. In this episode we discuss Tim's recent trip to Japan and set the stage for Climate Energy Finance next report on Green Metal. The Spark Club Live events will continue, so stayed tuned for our next one. Enjoy the podcast. /episode/index/show/sparkclub/id/33760922

Tim Buckley - Regular Podcast - Ep38 10/14/2024

Tim Buckley - Regular Podcast - Ep38 This is episode 38 of the Spark Club podcast. And the 5th in our new Regular Podcast with Tim Buckley In this episode we discuss Tim's recent report The Green Capital Tsunami. You'll hear the genesis for the idea and how a new theme is emerging in China's approach to the global energy transition. The report is available for free at . The Spark Club Live events will continue, so stayed tuned for our next one. Enjoy the podcast. /episode/index/show/sparkclub/id/33446077

Tim Buckley - Regular Podcast - Ep37 10/02/2024

Tim Buckley - Regular Podcast - Ep37 This is episode 36 of the Spark Club podcast. And the 4th in our new Regular Podcast with Tim Buckley The global dynamic in the energy transition focuses on Australia, Europe or the US, with occasional reference to China. The capacity and deployment stats coming out of China are staggering, and not well reported. This Spark Club Regular podcast aims to bring balance to the conversation and be a clear and consistent voice on global structural change in energy and the role China is playing. Tim Buckley from is a banking analyst with deep experience on the rise and rise of China in solar, wind, batteries and EVs. Tim and I believe there is value in coming together each fortnight and sharing a view of the energy transition from a fresh perspective. The format is simple. We’ll start with recent highlights, then dig into the Big Story and end with a prediction or two. The Spark Club Live events will continue, so stayed tuned for our next one. Enjoy the podcast. /episode/index/show/sparkclub/id/33295032

Tim Buckley - Regular Podcast - Ep36 09/15/2024

Tim Buckley - Regular Podcast - Ep36 This is episode 3 of the Spark Club Regular podcast. The global dynamic in the energy transition focuses on Australia, Europe or the US, with occasional reference to China. The capacity and deployment stats coming out of China are staggering, and not well reported. The Spark Club Regular podcast aims to bring balance to the conversation and be a clear and consistent voice on global structural change in energy and the role China is playing. Tim Buckley from is a banking analyst with deep experience on the rise and rise of China in solar, wind, batteries and EVs. Tim and I believe there is value in coming together each fortnight and sharing a view of the energy transition from a fresh perspective. The format is simple. We’ll start with recent highlights, then dig into the Big Story and end with a prediction or two. The Spark Club Live events will continue, so stayed tuned for our next one. Enjoy the podcast. /episode/index/show/sparkclub/id/33060237

Tim Buckley - Regular Podcast - Ep35 09/01/2024

Tim Buckley - Regular Podcast - Ep35 Exciting news, we are embarking on a new chapter for Spark Club. We are adding a regular podcast into this feed. This is episode 2. The global dynamic in the energy transition focuses on Australia, Europe or the US, with occasional reference to China. The capacity and deployment stats coming out of China are staggering, and not well reported. The Spark Club Regular podcast aims to bring balance to the conversation and be a clear and consistent voice on global structural change in energy and the role China is playing. Tim Buckley from is a banking analyst with deep experience on the rise and rise of China in solar, wind, batteries and EVs. Tim and I believe there is value in coming together each fortnight and sharing a view of the energy transition from a fresh perspective. The format is simple. We’ll start with recent highlights, then dig into the Big Story and end with a prediction or two. The Spark Club Live events will continue, so stayed tuned for our next one. Enjoy the podcast. /episode/index/show/sparkclub/id/32850947

Tim Buckley - Regular Podcast - Ep34 08/19/2024

Tim Buckley - Regular Podcast - Ep34 Hi and welcome to the Spark Club Podcast. Spark Club podcasts are recordings from our live events, hosted in front of a Spark Club live audience. A week later, or so, we publish the recording as a podcast recording. Since 2016 the recording of our live events has worked well. The exciting news is we are embarking on a new chapter for Spark Club. We are adding a regular podcast into this feed. If you’re like me, you may listen to five energy or more energy podcasts a week. So how is it possible there is space for another one? We believe so. The reason is the global dynamic in the energy transition which focuses on Australia, Europe or the US, with occasional reference to China. The good news is there is indeed a clear and consistent voice on China, based here in Australia. Tim Buckley from is a banking analyst with deep experience on the rise and rise of China in solar, wind, batteries and EVs. Tim follows the data points closely and observes trends not cutting through elsewhere. Tim and I believe there is value in coming together each fortnight and sharing a view of the energy transition from a fresh perspective. The format is simple. We’ll start with recent highlights, then dig into the Big Story and end with a prediction or two. The Spark Club Live events will continue, so stayed tuned for our next one. Now onto the podcast. /episode/index/show/sparkclub/id/32633252

How PERC Changed the World 06/23/2024

How PERC Changed the World Hi and welcome to the Spark Club podcast. In this podcast, How PERC changed the World, we'll hear from Professor Martin Green from UNSW and how he and his team invented the PERC solar cell. PERC's global success has unlocked the lowest cost of energy in history. We’ll hear the back story from Martin and then hear what the future holds for SPREE at UNSW from Professor Renate Egan. A truly amazing story, from the humble team that developed the humble solar cell, that indeed changed the world. Also, at the start we’ll hear from voices across our community sharing their thanks and appreciation for PERC and the impact it had on their careers and the global energy transition. Enjoy the podcast. /episode/index/show/sparkclub/id/31852122

US State Dept - What's Next for Climate 12/05/2023

US State Dept - What's Next for Climate In 2023 Australia and the United States have taken strong action on climate to accelerate the transition to a global clean energy economy. In May, President Biden and Prime Minister Albanese jointly declared that climate and clean energy are the third pillar of the U.S.-Australia alliance. The commits our countries to expanding and diversifying clean energy and critical minerals supply chains, to drive innovation and accelerate the establishment of a global clean energy economy. In this panel we discuss the impact of the step change in the US and Australia commitment to collaborate this year and what the expected flow on consequences and opportunities which will flow from the Compact and the enormous public investment flowing into climate technology and deployment. /episode/index/show/sparkclub/id/28933388

Energy Transition Tsunami - David Roberts & Saul Griffith 08/23/2023

Energy Transition Tsunami - David Roberts & Saul Griffith It’s an exciting time in cleantech as global macro trends, decarbonisation ambitions and public investment transform the energy sector. Which is why it was a great opportunity to host David Roberts from the Volts Podcast and Saul Griffith from Rewiring America and Rewiring Australia in front of a live Spark Club audience at Fishburners in Sydney in August 2023. In this robust conversation, David and Saul discuss the politics and policy of clean energy the US and Australia and the scale of the public capital needed to unlock the tsunami of opportunity coming. Enjoy the podcast. /episode/index/show/sparkclub/id/27827928

Infravision - Drones for Transmission + Danny Kennedy 12/01/2022

Infravision - Drones for Transmission + Danny Kennedy Infravision co-founder and CEO Cameron Van Der Berg believes technology will play a vital role in revolutionising high voltage grid transmission lines. Infravision set out to drag a traditional slow moving trillion dollar transmission industry into the future, by using drones to string. Cameron and his team are innovating by partnering with progressive grids, moving the industry forward, faster, cheaper and safer applying the 10X rule to a slow changing industry. Danny knows the Infravision business well, starting at EnergyLab in Sydney and supporting their entry into the US. You’ll hear a deeper perspective on the Infravision journey through Danny’s observation as they share lessons on the challenges of setting up operations in the US to meet growing demand and how hard tech is achievable in the high stakes high voltage transmission industry. Danny will also share an update on our industry more broadly. This year is looking increasingly like a breakthrough year in Climate Tech. /episode/index/show/sparkclub/id/25184937

Verge22 - USA is Turning ON - Podcast 10/31/2022

Verge22 - USA is Turning ON - Podcast In this Spark Club podcast we’ll hear how United States is turning on. I recorded interviews in the last week October at the Verge22, the largest climate tech conference in North America held in San Jose California. Climate tech bucking the investment trend and the Binden Administration unlocking an enormous amount of government funding. We’ll hear an opening address from Secretary Granholm and then have perspectives from Danny Kennedy from NewEnergyNexus, followed by Mick Liubinskas from Climate Salad. As you’ll hear, it’s an exiting time to be in the clean tech sector. /episode/index/show/sparkclub/id/24861924

Lithium Battery Ecosystem Podcast 06/13/2022

Lithium Battery Ecosystem Podcast In this Spark Club podcast, recorded live at EnergyLab in June 2022, we shine a light on the Lithium Battery sector. Australian raw materials are playing a key role in this vital industry in the energy transition, but can we do more? We have an amazing panel, Danny Kennedy from New Energy Nexus, Katja Digweed from the CSIRO, Mark Chilcote CEO at Energy Renaissance and Christiaan Jordaan from Sicona and Novolith join us for this fascinating conversation on the Lithium Battery ecosystem Australia, and the potential to harness so much more in the six stages of lithium battery production. /episode/index/show/sparkclub/id/23408147

Independent Energy Event 05/15/2022

Independent Energy Event In this election Spark Club podcast we are joined by three leading Independent candidates for the up and coming Federal election on the 21st of May 2022. Allegra Spender from Wentworth, Kylea Tink from North Sydney and Georgia Steele from Hughes join Saul Griffith and I on stage for a conversation on the key issues on energy and the opportunity the clean energy transition holds for Australia in jobs, fuel cost savings and National prosperity. /episode/index/show/sparkclub/id/23113451

The Big Switch Event - Saul Griffith 03/28/2022

The Big Switch Event - Saul Griffith In this exciting Spark Club podcast Saul Griffith is back. He joined us live at Fishburners in Sydney to discuss his new book, The Big Switch. The energy transition is moving at a clip and so is Saul as breaks his new big idea which you’ll hear on the podcast. It was a great event and I’d like to thank Young Henrys for sponsoring the beer. /episode/index/show/sparkclub/id/22591295

FFS Event - Danny Kennedy & Saul Griffith 05/31/2021

FFS Event - Danny Kennedy & Saul Griffith This is a particularly exciting Spark Club podcast as Danny Kennedy and Saul Griffith join us live at Fishburners to share their views on the future of the electrification of everything. We cover the big levers needed to deliver bold ambitions in reducing carbon emissions. Wartime language helps describe the urgency and scale of the challenge to electrify everything with the message of jobs, jobs, jobs. /episode/index/show/sparkclub/id/19298546

Demand Response Event - Marija Petkovic 05/02/2021

Demand Response Event - Marija Petkovic Spark Club is hosting Live Events again! We will hear from Marija Petkovic from Energy Synapse about the Demand Response rule change to come in on the 24th October 2021. Grant McDowell interviews Marija to explore the global context for Demand Response and the impact the rule change will have on commercial industrial electricity consumers, retailers and aggregators entering the market. /episode/index/show/sparkclub/id/18940538

OpenSolar - Maaike Gobel 09/23/2020

OpenSolar - Maaike Gobel Welcome to the Spark Club Export Podcast series. In this export series Grant McDowell will be interviewing founders and leaders from seven energy tech companies based in Australia. We’ll hear the back story on how they got started, what problems they aim to solve and what the future holds, here in Australia and in global markets. This is program seven in the series with my conversation with Maaike Gobel from OpenSolar. /episode/index/show/sparkclub/id/16108133

David Morgan - Iron Matrix 09/15/2020

David Morgan - Iron Matrix Welcome to the Spark Club Export Podcast series. In this export series Grant McDowell will be interviewing founders and leaders from seven energy tech companies based in Australia. We’ll hear the back story on how they got started, what problems they aim to solve and what the future holds, here in Australia and in global markets. This is program six in the series with my conversation with David Morgan from Iron Matrix. /episode/index/show/sparkclub/id/16013135

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