As an exclusive guest of the Smart Energy Council, Decon Corporation’s Andrew Cowper was honoured to attend the landmark event held at the National Press Club of Australia in Canberra, which was broadcast live on the ABC.
The keynote was delivered by John Grimes, Chief Executive of the Smart Energy Council, with a powerful message titled "Power Politics: The Political Power of Australia's Renewable Energy Industry".
Grimes spoke passionately about the momentum behind renewables and the role they play in shaping Australia’s future. He urged Australia to go all in on hosting COP31 in 2026, highlighting the economic and strategic value of such a move. He also called for stronger emissions targets, suggesting a 70% reduction by 2035, while noting that we’re on track to hit our current 2030 goals. Another standout message was the opportunity to collaborate with Pacific nations to become the world’s first 100% renewable energy region, driven not just by environmental urgency, but clear economic sense.
For us at Decon, these conversations reaffirm what we already believe in: that local manufacturing and innovation are key to powering Australia’s clean energy transition. Whether it’s wind, solar, or clean energy battery storage – we’re proud to be part of the solution.
A sincere thank you to the Smart Energy Council for the invitation and for continuing to lead such important conversations about our energy future.
You can watch the event here: https://iview.abc.net.au/video/NC2511C023S00