Energy 101 logo featuring renewable energy symbols including a solar panel, wind turbine and eco lightbulb within a rose gold circular frame.

Energy #101 Series

Energy 101 is a simplified educational series designed to make complex energy and infrastructure conversations easier to understand. Covering renewable energy, transmission, batteries, grid transformation, energy transition and future technologies, the series bridges the gap between technical industry language and everyday public understanding.

Originally published as part of Tarnia Riggs’ LinkedIn Energy 101 Series and adapted for TarniaRiggs.com.

Energy 101: Historical Review and Future Projection of Electricity Production, Use and Demand
Energy #101 Series: A Historical Review and Future Projection of Electricity Production, Use and Demand
Explore how electricity production and use have evolved from the earliest power systems to today’s rapidly changing energy landscape. This Energy 101 historical review examines Australia’s growing electricity demand, the transition to renewable energy and the infrastructure required to support households, industry, transport, data centres and future economic growth.
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Modern AI data centre connected to high-voltage electricity infrastructure, highlighting the growing need for dedicated power generation to support artificial intelligence.
Energy #101 Series: Why Are Governments Asking AI Data Centres to Bring Their Own Power?
Artificial intelligence is driving one of the biggest increases in electricity demand in decades. As AI data centres grow larger and more power-hungry, governments are increasingly asking developers to "bring their own power" by investing in new generation, batteries and grid infrastructure. This Energy #101 guide explains what the policy means, why it's emerging, and how AI is reshaping Australia's energy system, infrastructure planning and stakeholder engagement in plain English.
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Energy 101 cover image showing natural gas infrastructure alongside wind turbines and solar panels, illustrating Australia's evolving energy transition and the continuing role of gas.
Energy #101 Series: Why Is Gas Back in the Conversation?
Australia's energy conversation is changing. After years of encouraging electrification and reducing gas use, governments are once again recognising gas as part of Australia's energy transition. This Energy 101 article explores why policy has evolved and how gas, renewables, batteries and transmission work together to support a reliable energy system.
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Global map illustrating Renewable Energy Zones and coordinated clean energy planning across Australia, Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, North America, Central America and South America.
Energy #101 Series: Renewable Energy Zones: A Global Movement
Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) are transforming how electricity is generated, stored and delivered across Australia and around the world. Discover how different countries are planning the clean energy transition through renewable energy hubs, transmission networks and integrated energy systems, and why coordinated planning is essential for a reliable, sustainable energy future.
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Energy #101 infographic illustrating why renewable energy projects take years to develop, featuring wind turbines, solar panels, transmission infrastructure, community consultation, environmental field studies, planning processes and project delivery stages.
Energy #101 Series: Why Renewable Projects Take So Long — It’s Not Just About Building Wind Turbines
Energy #101 Series: Why Renewable Projects Take So Long — It's Not Just About Building Wind Turbines: Renewable energy projects are often discussed as though construction is the primary challenge. In reality, years of planning, stakeholder engagement, environmental assessments, heritage studies, grid connection requirements and regulatory approvals typically occur long before construction begins. This Energy #101 article explores the complex journey from project concept to delivery and explains why building renewable energy infrastructure is about far more than simply installing wind turbines and solar panels.
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Energy 101 Series article exploring the global race to triple renewable energy capacity through solar, wind, batteries and grid infrastructure
Energy #101 Series: Breaking Records Isn’t Enough — The Race to Triple Renewable Energy
Energy 101 Series: Breaking Records Isn’t Enough — The Race to Triple Renewable Energy Renewable energy is expanding at record speed, driven by solar, batteries and global investment. The challenge is no longer generation alone. Transmission networks, workforce capacity, planning systems, community engagement and infrastructure delivery must scale just as quickly if nations are to meet future energy demand and long-term transition goals.
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Energy 101 Series article exploring agriculture, agrivoltaics and renewable energy infrastructure across regional Australia
Energy #101 Series: Farming the Future Grid
Energy 101 Series: Farming the Future Grid An exploration into how farming communities, renewable energy infrastructure and agrivoltaics are helping shape Australia’s future grid through collaboration, resilience and regional innovation.
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Energy 101 Series article exploring social licence, stakeholder engagement and community trust in renewable energy projects
Energy #101 Series: Beyond the Spinner — Social Licence & Community
Energy 101 Series: Beyond the Spinner — Social Licence & Community An exploration into social licence, community engagement and the evolving relationship between renewable energy projects, regional communities and Australia’s future energy transition.
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Energy 101 Series article exploring grid stability, battery storage, transmission infrastructure and Australia’s future energy system
Energy #101 Series: Grid Stability — The Invisible Technology Keeping the Lights On
Energy 101 Series: Grid Stability — The Invisible Technology Keeping the Lights On An exploration of the invisible systems, infrastructure, and technologies that help maintain grid stability and reliability as Australia transitions toward a more renewable-powered future.
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Energy 101 Series article exploring the workforce, skills and communities driving Australia’s renewable energy transition
Energy #101 Series: The New Workforce Powering the Transition
Energy 101 Series: The New Workforce Powering the Transition An exploration into the new workforce powering Australia’s renewable energy transition through infrastructure, skills development, regional opportunity and future-focused industries.
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Energy 101 Series article exploring the global shift from coal to renewable energy including solar and wind power growth
Energy #101 Series: Renewables Surpass Coal for the First Time — Solar and Wind Are Reshaping the Global Electricity Mix
Energy 101 Series: Renewables Surpass Coal for the First Time — Solar and Wind Are Reshaping the Global Electricity Mix An exploration into the rapid growth of renewable energy, solar and wind power as global electricity systems transition away from coal and toward a cleaner energy future.
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Energy 101 Series article exploring agrivoltaics, solar farming and renewable energy integration across rural Australia
Energy #101 Series: Solar in the Countryside: Why Dismissing Renewable Energy Is Short-Sighted
Energy 101 Series: Solar in the Countryside: Why Dismissing Renewable Energy Is Short-Sighted An exploration into how agrivoltaics, renewable energy and agriculture can coexist to support regional communities, farming resilience and Australia’s long-term energy future.
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Energy 101 Series article exploring transmission infrastructure, farming communities and Australia’s renewable energy transition
Energy #101 Series: Transmission Infrastructure & Farming: When Energy Meets Agriculture
Energy 101 Series: Transmission Infrastructure & Farming: When Energy Meets Agriculture An exploration into how transmission infrastructure, regional farming communities and renewable energy projects intersect through land use, engagement, compensation and Australia’s evolving future grid.
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Energy 101 Series article exploring renewable energy, wildlife protection, biodiversity and cultural heritage in Australia
Energy #101 Series: Wildlife & Heritage — Protecting What Matters
Energy 101 Series: Wildlife & Heritage — Protecting What Matters An exploration into how renewable energy projects interact with wildlife, biodiversity and cultural heritage while balancing responsible development, community expectations and Australia’s future energy transition.
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Energy 101 Series infographic explaining renewable energy, batteries, hydro and Australia’s future energy transition
Energy #101 Series: Breaking Down the Big Ideas Powering Australia’s Renewable Future
Energy 101 Series: Breaking Down the Big Ideas Powering Australia’s Renewable Future A simplified guide to renewable energy, storage and grid infrastructure exploring how wind, solar, hydro and batteries are helping shape Australia’s future energy system.
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Energy 101 Series article exploring AI, data centres and the future of renewable energy infrastructure and grid planning
Energy #101 Series: AI, Data Centres & The Future Grid
Energy 101 Series: AI, Data Centres & The Future Grid An exploration into how artificial intelligence, data centres and rising digital demand are reshaping renewable energy, transmission infrastructure and the future grid.
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Victorian Transmission Investment Framework & Renewable Energy Zones
Victoria's Renewable Energy Zones featuring wind turbines, solar panels and green landscapes representing renewable energy development and transmission planning.

Victoria is taking a coordinated approach to the energy transition through Renewable Energy Zones (REZs), strategic transmission planning and community benefit frameworks. This article explores how renewable energy zones work, why transmission planning matters, how social licence influences project delivery, and what Victoria’s latest REZ consultation process means for communities, developers and the future energy system.

Read More → weekendnotes.com/victorian-transmission-investment-framework-rez-community-benefits/

Pelican Point Battery Energy Storage System
Construction site for the Pelican Point Battery Energy Storage System in South Australia, showing the future location of ENGIE's large-scale battery project adjacent to existing industrial energy infrastructure.

South Australia is continuing to strengthen its position as a renewable energy leader with the development of the Pelican Point Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). Located alongside the existing Pelican Point Power Station, this 200 MW / 400 MWh battery project will store excess renewable energy and release it when demand is highest, helping improve grid reliability, energy security, and system resilience while supporting the state’s transition to a cleaner energy future.

Read More → weekendnotes.com/pelican-point-battery-energy-storage-system/

Bennetts Creek Battery Energy Storage System
Wärtsilä corporate logo, global energy storage and power systems technology company.

Victoria’s energy transition continues to accelerate with the Bennetts Creek Battery Energy Storage System, a major 100 MW / 223 MWh project being developed by Flow Power and global technology leader Wärtsilä. Located near Morwell in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley, the battery will strengthen grid reliability, support renewable energy integration, and provide critical energy storage services that help balance Australia’s evolving electricity network.

Read More → weekendnotes.com/bennetts-creek-battery-energy-storage-system/

Adelaide Climate Action Week
Adelaide Climate Action Week 2026 promotional graphic highlighting sustainability, renewable energy, community events and climate action in Adelaide, South Australia.

As South Australia continues its transition towards a low-carbon future, Adelaide Climate Action Week brings together communities, industry, researchers and government to explore practical solutions for sustainability, renewable energy, electrification and climate resilience. This article highlights the key events and conversations shaping the state’s clean energy future.

Read More → weekendnotes.com/adelaide-climate-action-week/

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