James Grant

Engineers, following on from my post earlier this week about FIFO, here’s the video version. I keep hearing a consistent message from LAMEs: “I’m not relocating. But I can do FIFO — if it’s predictable.” And that’s what I can’t stop thinking about. Because in a shortage, FIFO should be a practical approach for peak demand, leave cover, shutdowns, and planned backfills. So why isn’t it working more consistently? From what I’m hearing, the friction isn’t about willingness — it’s about design: - Cost (flights, accom, allowances — who wears it?) - Certainty (operators need coverage; engineers need locked-in dates) - Lead time (access, inductions, medicals, clearances… rarely fast) - Roster design (random weeks don’t work with family life) - Fatigue (travel days + nights can bite) And the bigger question: Is FIFO actually a people problem… or a coordination problem? If it ran like a structured pool (especially where skill sets overlap — e.g. turboprops), would that make it more sustainable for everyone? Keen to learn from the people living it. #AircraftMaintenance #AviationEngineering #LAME #FIFO #AviationAustralia

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The microgrid is already saving us money — creating local jobs, training and empowering the community to grow. That’s PowerMaker Chantelle Johns talking, from Marlinja Aboriginal community in the Northern Territory. The small remote community switched on Australia’s first First Nations-led and owned solar microgrid connecting every household in 2024, reports Chris Fitzpatrick with Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Residents are reporting bills down by about 70%. Learn more in the comments, where you’ll also find a Marlinja case study by project partner Original Power - a template for working with communities to generate clean reliable affordable energy solutions.

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CSIRO will be able to simulate microgrids and grid faults, test inverter performance under real-world conditions and run large-scale experiments as part of a $3 million expansion to its Renewable Energy Integration Facility in Newcastle. #CSIRO #REIF #renewables

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Curious how substation design adapts to urban hustle vs. rural space? Discover the key challenges and smart solutions shaping Australia’s power infrastructure. Read more - https://lnkd.in/gxA3XSa5

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The biggest solar project in Victoria to date, which has been a testing ground for robotic technologies, has sent its first power to the grid. 🔗 Read more: https://lnkd.in/gUKYAD_q

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Electrical Engineers: Power Up Your Future in Australia Electrical Engineers: Australia’s net‑zero push is creating a once‑in‑a‑generation demand spike. ⚡ From grid connections and high‑voltage transmission to the fast‑growing Battery Energy Storage (BESS) sector—power systems talent is being snapped up. And it’s not just energy: major rail projects and WA mining operations are actively hiring automation & control specialists. This structural demand can strengthen your case for skilled pathways like 189, 190, and 491—but it starts with a positive skills assessment. Want daily, data‑driven updates on occupation demand, skills assessment trends, and visa opportunities? Follow Migroto for more—and save & share this post with an engineer who needs it.

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Inspecting and repairing the electric grid is only getting harder as humanity’s demand for energy surges, extreme weather events become more common, and the grid’s future grows more complex. Tapestry, X’s moonshot for the electric grid, is partnering with Vector Limited, New Zealand’s largest energy distribution utility, to explore how tools like AI, computer vision, and machine learning can help tackle these challenges. Using Tapestry, Vector is able to spot and address issues on critical grid components like utility poles and transformers with much greater ease. Vector’s data shows that inspections that previously took its field assessors 30-45 minutes per pole can now be accomplished in just 5 to 7 minutes, and maintenance processes in dense terrain that once required roughly 320 hours of strenuous onsite work can now be done from an office over the course of one day—freeing up time for Vector’s technical experts to fix problems instead of find them. Learn more about how Tapestry and Vector’s partnership can serve as an example of AI’s potential to help grid operators all over the world: https://lnkd.in/g4bp5bRA #TapestryEnergy

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Jessie and Michael are part of the first cohort of the Grid Connection Engineer Graduate Program: they will take part in four rotations across two years with developers, manufacturers, transmission network service providers and the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO). Grid connection engineers play a critical role in ensuring renewable projects integrate with the electricity network, but they’re in short supply and require specialist knowledge. We are delighted to have partnered with AEMO on the design and launch of this important program, and thank the host organisations ACCIONA, Alinta Energy, ElectraNet Pty Ltd, GE Vernova , Global Power Energy, RES, RWE, Vestas, and Windlab, who will help build the next generation of grid engineers to power Australia’s clean energy transition. Click to find out more about Jessie and Michael and the program here: https://lnkd.in/g7rEhByR #cleanenergy #renewableenergy #cleanenergyworksforAus #workforce #jobs

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We’ve unlocked direct-to-grid connectivity across Australia. With AS777 certification, the Sierra 25 now delivers simpler, faster, scalable and more efficient power security than ever before. For our customers, this means: - Industrial-scale direct-to-grid connectivity - Grid reinjection and peak shaving - Phase balancing - Energy sharing via DC distribution - UPS functionality to secure AC & DC loads and charge batteries Discover more: https://lnkd.in/gqqgSxC7 #powergrid #energy #power #electricity #reliablepower #acdc #powerconversion #CET #sierra

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We are pleased to have supported Transpower New Zealand (New Zealand's transmission grid owner) in its development of and consultation on a "future grid blueprint" - Te Kanapu. Forming a view on the current and future costs of different generation and storage technologies is an important part of developing a grid blueprint. Alongside Beca, Concept researched generation and storage capital costs in New Zealand to help Transpower with the need for a "generation stack." Check out the slides below for a snapshot of our learnings. The link to the more detailed report and Transpower's latest Te Kanapu consultation is available in the comments.

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The momentum behind Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) is building and fast. - Victoria is leading the charge with new community batteries being deployed in Altona, Manor Lakes, and Torquay. Managed by Diamond Energy, these batteries will integrate into a broader VPP network, helping to stabilise the grid and enhance renewable uptake. - From 2026, VPPs will play a larger role in energy markets, competing directly with large-scale generators. The goal? Lower costs, better reliability, and more flexibility to support the intermittent nature of renewables. - Household participation is ramping up. More Australians are leasing solar and battery systems to join VPPs, feeding power back into the grid and cutting energy bills. Market players are already developing new business models to keep pace. VPPs aren’t coming, they’re already here. Is your business ready? #VirtualPowerPlants #CommunityBatteries #EnergyTransition #VPPs #GridStability #RenewableEnergy #BatteryStorage #CleanEnergy #VPPPartners

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We’re excited to announce the official launch of the Smart Energy Innovation Lab, a joint initiative between Renox Technologies (Formerly Redx) and Griffith University! ⚡🎓 This collaboration focuses on developing an AI-driven intelligent agent capable of predicting grid frequency changes in real time and coordinating battery energy storage systems (BESS) to respond automatically. The goal is to enhance grid stability, optimise battery performance, and support the large-scale integration of renewable energy into Australia’s power system. By combining Renox’s expertise in battery and inverter technology with Griffith University’s strength in AI and data science, we’re paving the way for real innovation in how energy is generated, stored, and managed. A special thank you to Professor Alan Liew, Professor Shirui Pan, and Associate Professor Hui Tian for their leadership, collaboration, and shared vision in making this project possible. Together, we’re shaping the future of clean, intelligent energy in Australia. 🌞🔋🤖 More Information: https://lnkd.in/gW9R2bn2 Chois Cai Elmar I. wang xingyun #Renox #SmartEnergy #InnovationLab #GriffithUniversity #CleanEnergy #AI #BESS #RenewableEnergy #Partnership #FCAS #renewableenergy

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The Securing Power Systems in the Renewable Revolution White Paper is now live and sparking conversations about Australia’s electricity network. In a new commentary for Renew Economy, White Paper author Mark Twidell explains that moving from thermal generators to inverter-based technologies calls for new tools, testing and collaboration. Drawing on the report’s findings, he highlights the importance of understanding inverter behaviour during disruption, investing in validation capabilities and developing robust operating practices to maintain grid security as renewable generation grows. “Greater confidence that the power system can operate securely during periods of close to 100% inverter-based supply will enable faster connection of new generation, lower costs and help meet growing electricity demand in a resilient, decarbonised system.” - Mark Twidell, Industry Professor of Practice at the UNSW Energy Institute 🔎 Read more: https://lnkd.in/gJrSJzeM Join industry experts at The Energy webinar on 19 February to explore the future of the digital grid. ➡️ Register here: https://lnkd.in/gmuTFzgE ➡️ Download the White Paper: https://lnkd.in/ggwZ4iwF The White Paper is produced by the NSW Decarb Hub’s Electrification and Energy Systems Network, UNSW Energy Institute and the University of Wollongong. Dani Alexander, Deo Prasad AO FTSE, Laura Earl, John Fletcher, Mark Lewis, Lucinda B., Amy Kean, David Roche, Chloe Hicks, Thomas Gao, Edward Jansson, Ty Christopher, Georgios Konstantinou, Felipe Arraño-Vargas, Gregor Verbic, Professor David Hill, Neville Henderson, Shan Jiang, Office of the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer, NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO)

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Institute Director John Fletcher is co-author of a White Paper "Securing Power Systems in the Renewable Revolution" Understanding inverter behaviour is crucial to the future energy grid. Download the white paper via the link in the post ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/gyaCMXBx

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Powering Remote Australian Communities, Off the Grid We're proud to share that GenOffGrid has secured two contracts to deliver clean, reliable, off-grid energy to the remote Aboriginal community stores of Bayulu and Wangkatjungka in the Kimberley. These new solar microgrid systems, supported by the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA), will: Improve energy reliability Strengthen food security Reduce diesel use and emissions Support community independence “This is about more than energy – it’s about community strength and resilience.” – John Davidson, CEO, GenOffGrid “The Bayulu and Wangkatjungka projects, supported by the NIAA, will provide vital energy security for the community while reducing environmental impact and operational costs. Our work at Bayulu, Wangkatjungka and across Northern Australia shows how renewable microgrids can unlock opportunities for remote communities. Through partnerships with organisations like NIAA, we’re making lasting improvements in food security and community wellbeing while advancing our commitment to Closing the Gap.” These projects are part of the $9.6M Store Efficiency and Resilience Package, delivering real, on-the-ground outcomes for First Nations communities. We’re honoured to play our part in building a smarter, more sustainable future in regional WA. More on this from Business News: https://lnkd.in/gQkkurJv A GenOffGrid power installation at Dampier Lagoon.

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The much-anticipated GoodWe Three-Phase ESA All-in-One energy storage solution has now been CEC approved and will soon be ready for installation across Australia MORE 👉 https://lnkd.in/gcSXt4t2

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Meet Professor Fuwen Yang, a Griffith University expert leading the Feasibility study of Net-Zero microgrids project for the Qld Decarb Hub. The project aims to develop a net-zero microgrid simulation platform to investigate new technologies for achieving net zero (pure renewables) in microgrid operation. A data-driven approach will be proposed to establish novel renewable generation models and a data driven control and optimisation method will be developed to operate the net-zero microgrid simulation platform. The outcomes of this project will not only advance knowledge in renewable energy integration but also support the ambition to achieve net zero of total electricity supply. You can read Prof. Yang’s researcher profile, including a personal Q&A, on our website: https://lnkd.in/gkkiAG6V

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How do you prove a network risk actually exists before spending millions to fix it? That question is becoming central for electricity networks everywhere and is especially pronounced in New Zealand, where EDBs are navigating three priorities at once: enabling electrification, improving resilience, and keeping costs down under Commerce Commission scrutiny. Last month’s major storm across parts of New Zealand brought this into sharp focus, reinforcing the importance of moving beyond static inspection cycles toward risk-based modelling that helps utilities prioritise mitigation actions before failures occur. At the same time, the industry is moving toward greater collaboration and standardisation, with government and regulators encouraging EDBs to align closely on how network risk is assessed and managed across the country. Taken together, these forces are raising the bar on infrastructure decision-making. Utilities must now move faster, justify investments more rigorously, and manage increasingly complex systems. On a recent episode of The Business of Tech podcast, Jack Curtis talks about exactly what this looks like in practice. Across regions from Texas to Australia to New Zealand, system-level modelling is becoming less of an aspiration and more of a prerequisite for making defensible infrastructure decisions. Check out the episode via the link in comments.

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